CVE-2020-11998
Remote code execution in Apache ActiveMQ
A regression has been introduced in the commit preventing JMX re-bind. By passing an empty environment map to RMIConnectorServer, instead of the map that contains the authentication credentials, it leaves ActiveMQ open to the following attack: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/management/agent.html "A remote client could create a javax.management.loading.MLet MBean and use it to create new MBeans from arbitrary URLs, at least if there is no security manager. In other words, a rogue remote client could make your Java application execute arbitrary code." Mitigation: Upgrade to Apache ActiveMQ 5.15.13
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
9.8
A regression has been introduced in the commit preventing JMX re-bind. By passing an empty environment map to RMIConnectorServer, instead of the map that contains the authentication credentials, it leaves ActiveMQ open to the following attack: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/management/agent.html "A remote client could create a javax.management.loading.MLet MBean and use it to create new MBeans from arbitrary URLs, at least if there is no security manager. In other words, a rogue remote client could make your Java application execute arbitrary code." Mitigation: Upgrade to Apache ActiveMQ 5.15.13
- Record
CVE-2020-11998- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 7.5 High
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
A regression has been introduced in the commit preventing JMX re-bind. By passing an empty environment map to RMIConnectorServer, instead of the map that contains the authentication credentials, it leaves ActiveMQ open to the following attack: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/management/agent.html "A remote client could create a javax.management.loading.MLet MBean and use it to create new MBeans from arbitrary URLs, at least if there is no security manager. In other words, a rogue remote client could make your Java application execute arbitrary code." Mitigation: Upgrade to Apache ActiveMQ 5.15.13
- Record
CVE-2020-11998- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-1236 No score
A regression has been introduced in the commit preventing JMX re-bind. By passing an empty environment map to RMIConnectorServer, instead of the map that contains the authentication credentials, it leaves ActiveMQ open to the following attack: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/management/agent.html "A remote client could create a javax.management.loading.MLet MBean and use it to create new MBeans from arbitrary URLs, at least if there is no security manager. In other words, a rogue remote client could make your Java application execute arbitrary code." Mitigation: Upgrade to Apache ActiveMQ 5.15.13
- Record
EUVD-2022-1236- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-wqfh-9m4g-7x6x
9.8
Remote code execution in Apache ActiveMQ
A regression has been introduced in the commit preventing JMX re-bind. By passing an empty environment map to RMIConnectorServer, instead of the map that contains the authentication credentials, it leaves ActiveMQ open to the following attack - A remote client could create a javax.management.loading.MLet MBean and use it to create new MBeans from arbitrary URLs, at least if there is no security manager. In other words, a rogue remote client could make your Java application execute arbitrary code. Mitigation - Upgrade to Apache ActiveMQ 5.15.13
- Record
GHSA-wqfh-9m4g-7x6x- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-94
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
9.8
A regression has been introduced in the commit preventing JMX re-bind. By passing an empty environment map to RMIConnectorServer, instead of the map that contains the authentication credentials, it leaves ActiveMQ open to the following attack: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/management/agent.html "A remote client could create a javax.management.loading.MLet MBean and use it to create new MBeans from arbitrary URLs, at least if there is no security manager. In other words, a rogue remote client could make your Java application execute arbitrary code." Mitigation: Upgrade to Apache ActiveMQ 5.15.13
- Record
CVE-2020-11998- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-wqfh-9m4g-7x6x
9.8
Remote code execution in Apache ActiveMQ
A regression has been introduced in the commit preventing JMX re-bind. By passing an empty environment map to RMIConnectorServer, instead of the map that contains the authentication credentials, it leaves ActiveMQ open to the following attack - A remote client could create a javax.management.loading.MLet MBean and use it to create new MBeans from arbitrary URLs, at least if there is no security manager. In other words, a rogue remote client could make your Java application execute arbitrary code. Mitigation - Upgrade to Apache ActiveMQ 5.15.13
- Record
GHSA-wqfh-9m4g-7x6x- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-94
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2020-11998
9.8
A regression has been introduced in the commit preventing JMX re-bind. By passing an empty environment map to RMIConnectorServer, instead of the map that contains the authentication credentials, it leaves ActiveMQ open to the following attack: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/management/agent.html "A remote client could create a javax.management.loading.MLet MBean and use it to create new MBeans from arbitrary URLs, at least if there is no security manager. In other words, a rogue remote client could make your Java application execute arbitrary code." Mitigation: Upgrade to Apache ActiveMQ 5.15.13
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2020-11998- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-activemq-2020-11998 No score
A regression has been introduced in the commit preventing JMX re-bind. By passing an empty environment map to RMIConnectorServer, instead of the map that contains the authentication credentials, it leaves ActiveMQ open to the following attack: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/management/agent.html "A remote client could create a javax.management.loading.MLet MBean and use it to create new MBeans from arbitrary URLs, at least if there is no security manager. In other words, a rogue remote client could make your Java application execute arbitrary code." Mitigation: Upgrade to Apache ActiveMQ 5.15.13
- Record
BIT-activemq-2020-11998- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.activemq:activemq-parentMaven |
5.15.12 to 5.15.12 | 5.15.13 |
activemqBitnami |
5.15.12 to 5.15.12 | None known |
org.apache.activemq:activemq-parentMaven |
5.15.12 up to 5.15.13 | 5.15.13 |
activemqUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.6.0+dfsg1-4+deb8u1ubuntu15.6.0+dfsg1-55.13.2+dfsg-25.13.2+dfsg-2ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
None known |
activemqUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.14.5-35.15.2-25.15.3-25.15.8-2~18.045.15.8-2~18.04.1~esm1 |
None known |
activemqUbuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.15.10-15.15.11-15.15.11-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
None known |
activemqUbuntu:Pro:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.16.1-15.16.1-1ubuntu0.1~esm15.16.1-1ubuntu0.1 |
None known |
activemqUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.17.2+dfsg-25.17.6+dfsg-1 |
None known |
activemqUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.17.6+dfsg-15.17.6+dfsg-2 |
None known |
activemqUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.17.6+dfsg-25.17.6+dfsg-2ubuntu1 |
None known |
activemqUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.17.6+dfsg-2 |
None known |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | shoucheng3/apache__activemq_CVE-2020-11998_5-15-12 | 2025-08-17 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, products | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2020-11998 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Apache Activemq, published September 10, 2020. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 48.9%, the 98th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.activemq:activemq-parent 5.15.13.
References
activemq.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2020-11998-announcement.txt
oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb2fd3bf2dce042e0ab3f3c94c4767c96bb2e7e6737624d63162df36d%40%3Ccommits.activemq.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r946488fb942fd35c6a6e0359f52504a558ed438574a8f14d36d7dcd7%40%3Ccommits.activemq.apache.org%3E
oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html
oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html
Show 10 moreShow less
oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11998
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r946488fb942fd35c6a6e0359f52504a558ed438574a8f14d36d7dcd7@%3Ccommits.activemq.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb2fd3bf2dce042e0ab3f3c94c4767c96bb2e7e6737624d63162df36d@%3Ccommits.activemq.apache.org%3E
github.com/apache/activemq/commit/0d6e5f2
github.com/apache/activemq/commit/88b78d0
github.com/apache/activemq/commit/aa8900c
github.com/advisories/GHSA-wqfh-9m4g-7x6x
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-11998
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-11998