CVE-2020-13946
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.
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
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 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 4.3 Medium
AV: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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-allMaven |
2.1.0 up to 2.1.12 | 2.1.12 |
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-allMaven |
2.2.0 up to 2.2.18 | 2.2.18 |
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-allMaven |
3.0.0 up to 3.0.22 | 3.0.22 |
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-allMaven |
3.11.0 up to 3.11.8 | 3.11.8 |
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-allMaven |
4.0-beta1 to 4.0-beta1 | 4.0-beta2 |
cassandraBitnami |
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-allMaven |
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 less2.1.42.1.52.1.62.1.72.1.82.1.9 |
2.1.12 |
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-allMaven |
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 less2.2.142.2.152.2.162.2.172.2.22.2.32.2.42.2.52.2.62.2.72.2.82.2.9 |
2.2.18 |
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-allMaven |
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 less3.0.143.0.153.0.163.0.173.0.183.0.193.0.23.0.203.0.213.0.33.0.43.0.53.0.63.0.73.0.83.0.9 |
3.0.22 |
org.apache.cassandra:cassandra-allMaven |
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-allMaven |
4.0-beta1 up to 4.0-beta2 | 4.0-beta2 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, products | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE 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
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rcd7544b24d8fc32b7950ec4c117052410b661babaa857fb1fc641152%40%3Cuser.cassandra.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r718e01f61b35409a4f7a3ccbc1cb5136a1558a9f9c2cb8d4ca9be1ce%40%3Cuser.cassandra.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1fd117082b992e7d43c1286e966c285f98aa362e685695d999ff42f7%40%3Cuser.cassandra.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rab8d90d28f944d84e4d7852f355a25c89451ae02c2decc4d355a9cfc%40%3Cuser.cassandra.apache.org%3E
security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210521-0005
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13946
Show 4 moreShow less
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1fd117082b992e7d43c1286e966c285f98aa362e685695d999ff42f7@%3Cuser.cassandra.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r718e01f61b35409a4f7a3ccbc1cb5136a1558a9f9c2cb8d4ca9be1ce@%3Cuser.cassandra.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rab8d90d28f944d84e4d7852f355a25c89451ae02c2decc4d355a9cfc@%3Cuser.cassandra.apache.org%3E
github.com/advisories/GHSA-24ww-mc5x-xc43