Every CVE Search/ Get API key

CVE-2020-13946

Man-in-the-middle attack in Apache Cassandra

5.9 MediumFix available

In Apache Cassandra, all versions prior to 2.1.22, 2.2.18, 3.0.22, 3.11.8 and 4.0-beta2, it is possible for a local attacker without access to the Apache Cassandra process or configuration files to manipulate the RMI registry to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and capture user names and passwords used to access the JMX interface. The attacker can then use these credentials to access the JMX interface and perform unauthorised operations. Users should also be aware of CVE-2019-2684, a JRE vulnerability that enables this issue to be exploited remotely.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
High
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None

Exploit likelihood

2.95%Up 1.3 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 5.9

In Apache Cassandra, all versions prior to 2.1.22, 2.2.18, 3.0.22, 3.11.8 and 4.0-beta2, it is possible for a local attacker without access to the Apache Cassandra process or configuration files to manipulate the RMI registry to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and capture user names and passwords used to access the JMX interface. The attacker can then use these credentials to access the JMX interface and perform unauthorised operations. Users should also be aware of CVE-2019-2684, a JRE vulnerability that enables this issue to be exploited remotely.

Record
CVE-2020-13946
CVSS 3.1
5.9 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CVSS 2.0
4.3 MediumAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-668
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

In Apache Cassandra, all versions prior to 2.1.22, 2.2.18, 3.0.22, 3.11.8 and 4.0-beta2, it is possible for a local attacker without access to the Apache Cassandra process or configuration files to manipulate the RMI registry to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and capture user names and passwords used to access the JMX interface. The attacker can then use these credentials to access the JMX interface and perform unauthorised operations. Users should also be aware of CVE-2019-2684, a JRE vulnerability that enables this issue to be exploited remotely.

Record
CVE-2020-13946
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0894 No score

In Apache Cassandra, all versions prior to 2.1.22, 2.2.18, 3.0.22, 3.11.8 and 4.0-beta2, it is possible for a local attacker without access to the Apache Cassandra process or configuration files to manipulate the RMI registry to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and capture user names and passwords used to access the JMX interface. The attacker can then use these credentials to access the JMX interface and perform unauthorised operations. Users should also be aware of CVE-2019-2684, a JRE vulnerability that enables this issue to be exploited remotely.

Record
EUVD-2021-0894
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-24ww-mc5x-xc43 5.9

Man-in-the-middle attack in Apache Cassandra

In Apache Cassandra, all versions prior to 2.1.22, 2.2.18, 3.0.22, 3.11.8 and 4.0-beta2, it is possible for a local attacker without access to the Apache Cassandra process or configuration files to manipulate the RMI registry to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and capture user names and passwords used to access the JMX interface. The attacker can then use these credentials to access the JMX interface and perform unauthorised operations. Users should also be aware of CVE-2019-2684, a JRE vulnerability that enables this issue to be exploited remotely.

Record
GHSA-24ww-mc5x-xc43
CVSS 3.1
5.9 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-668
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 5.9

In Apache Cassandra, all versions prior to 2.1.22, 2.2.18, 3.0.22, 3.11.8 and 4.0-beta2, it is possible for a local attacker without access to the Apache Cassandra process or configuration files to manipulate the RMI registry to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and capture user names and passwords used to access the JMX interface. The attacker can then use these credentials to access the JMX interface and perform unauthorised operations. Users should also be aware of CVE-2019-2684, a JRE vulnerability that enables this issue to be exploited remotely.

Record
CVE-2020-13946
CVSS 3.1
5.9 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-24ww-mc5x-xc43 5.9

Man-in-the-middle attack in Apache Cassandra

In Apache Cassandra, all versions prior to 2.1.22, 2.2.18, 3.0.22, 3.11.8 and 4.0-beta2, it is possible for a local attacker without access to the Apache Cassandra process or configuration files to manipulate the RMI registry to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and capture user names and passwords used to access the JMX interface. The attacker can then use these credentials to access the JMX interface and perform unauthorised operations. Users should also be aware of CVE-2019-2684, a JRE vulnerability that enables this issue to be exploited remotely.

Record
GHSA-24ww-mc5x-xc43
CVSS 3.1
5.9 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-668
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVBIT-cassandra-2020-13946 No score

In Apache Cassandra, all versions prior to 2.1.22, 2.2.18, 3.0.22, 3.11.8 and 4.0-beta2, it is possible for a local attacker without access to the Apache Cassandra process or configuration files to manipulate the RMI registry to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and capture user names and passwords used to access the JMX interface. The attacker can then use these credentials to access the JMX interface and perform unauthorised operations. Users should also be aware of CVE-2019-2684, a JRE vulnerability that enables this issue to be exploited remotely.

Record
BIT-cassandra-2020-13946
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Maven
2.1.0 up to 2.1.12
2.1.12
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Maven
2.2.0 up to 2.2.18
2.2.18
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Maven
3.0.0 up to 3.0.22
3.0.22
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Maven
3.11.0 up to 3.11.8
3.11.8
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Maven
4.0-beta1 to 4.0-beta1
4.0-beta2
cassandra
Bitnami
before 2.1.22, 2.2.0 up to 2.2.18, 3.0.0 up to 3.0.22, 3.11.0 up to 3.11.8
2.1.222.2.183.0.223.11.8
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Maven
2.1.0 up to 2.1.12, plus listed versions
2.1.12.1.102.1.112.1.22.1.3
Show 6 moreShow less
2.1.42.1.52.1.62.1.72.1.82.1.9
2.1.12
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Maven
2.2.0 up to 2.2.18, plus listed versions
2.2.12.2.102.2.112.2.122.2.13
Show 12 moreShow less
2.2.142.2.152.2.162.2.172.2.22.2.32.2.42.2.52.2.62.2.72.2.82.2.9
2.2.18
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Maven
3.0.0 up to 3.0.22, plus listed versions
3.0.13.0.103.0.113.0.123.0.13
Show 16 moreShow less
3.0.143.0.153.0.163.0.173.0.183.0.193.0.23.0.203.0.213.0.33.0.43.0.53.0.63.0.73.0.83.0.9
3.0.22
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Maven
3.11.0 up to 3.11.8, plus listed versions
3.11.13.11.23.11.33.11.43.11.53.11.63.11.7
3.11.8
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all
Maven
4.0-beta1 up to 4.0-beta2
4.0-beta2

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliases, productsEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2020-13946 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.9) in Apache Cassandra, published September 1, 2020. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.95%, the 87th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-all 2.1.12.

References

Show 4 moreShow less
MoveEnter Open