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CVE-2023-34040

Java Deserialization vulnerability in Spring-Kafka When Improperly Configured

5.3 MediumPublic exploitFix available

In Spring for Apache Kafka 3.0.9 and earlier and versions 2.9.10 and earlier, a possible deserialization attack vector existed, but only if unusual configuration was applied. An attacker would have to construct a malicious serialized object in one of the deserialization exception record headers.

Specifically, an application is vulnerable when all of the following are true:

  • The user does not configure an ErrorHandlingDeserializer for the key and/or value of the record
  • The user explicitly sets container properties checkDeserExWhenKeyNull and/or checkDeserExWhenValueNull container properties to true.
  • The user allows untrusted sources to publish to a Kafka topic

By default, these properties are false, and the container only attempts to deserialize the headers if an ErrorHandlingDeserializer is configured. The ErrorHandlingDeserializer prevents the vulnerability by removing any such malicious headers before processing the record.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
Low

Exploit likelihood

2.09%Up 2.0 points since Aug 25, 2023
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 5.3

Java Deserialization vulnerability in Spring-Kafka When Improperly Configured

In Spring for Apache Kafka 3.0.9 and earlier and versions 2.9.10 and earlier, a possible deserialization attack vector existed, but only if unusual configuration was applied. An attacker would have to construct a malicious serialized object in one of the deserialization exception record headers.

Specifically, an application is vulnerable when all of the following are true:

  • The user does not configure an ErrorHandlingDeserializer for the key and/or value of the record
  • The user explicitly sets container properties checkDeserExWhenKeyNull and/or checkDeserExWhenValueNull container properties to true.
  • The user allows untrusted sources to publish to a Kafka topic

By default, these properties are false, and the container only attempts to deserialize the headers if an ErrorHandlingDeserializer is configured. The ErrorHandlingDeserializer prevents the vulnerability by removing any such malicious headers before processing the record.

Record
CVE-2023-34040
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
Weakness
CWE-502
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-2275 5.3

In Spring for Apache Kafka 3.0.9 and earlier and versions 2.9.10 and earlier, a possible deserialization attack vector existed, but only if unusual configuration was applied. An attacker would have to construct a malicious serialized object in one of the deserialization exception record headers.

Specifically, an application is vulnerable when all of the following are true:

  • The user does not configure an ErrorHandlingDeserializer for the key and/or value of the record
  • The user explicitly sets container properties checkDeserExWhenKeyNull and/or checkDeserExWhenValueNull container properties to true.
  • The user allows untrusted sources to publish to a Kafka topic

By default, these properties are false, and the container only attempts to deserialize the headers if an ErrorHandlingDeserializer is configured. The ErrorHandlingDeserializer prevents the vulnerability by removing any such malicious headers before processing the record.

Record
EUVD-2023-2275
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-crqf-q9fp-hwjw 7.8

Spring-Kafka has Java Deserialization vulnerability When Improperly Configured

In Spring for Apache Kafka 3.0.9 and earlier and versions 2.9.10 and earlier, a possible deserialization attack vector existed, but only if unusual configuration was applied. An attacker would have to construct a malicious serialized object in one of the deserialization exception record headers.

Specifically, an application is vulnerable when all of the following are true:

  • The user does not configure an ErrorHandlingDeserializer for the key and/or value of the record
  • The user explicitly sets container properties checkDeserExWhenKeyNull and/or checkDeserExWhenValueNull container properties to true.
  • The user allows untrusted sources to publish to a Kafka topic

By default, these properties are false, and the container only attempts to deserialize the headers if an ErrorHandlingDeserializer is configured. The ErrorHandlingDeserializer prevents the vulnerability by removing any such malicious headers before processing the record.

Record
GHSA-crqf-q9fp-hwjw
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-502
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 5.3

In Spring for Apache Kafka 3.0.9 and earlier and versions 2.9.10 and earlier, a possible deserialization attack vector existed, but only if unusual configuration was applied. An attacker would have to construct a malicious serialized object in one of the deserialization exception record headers.

Specifically, an application is vulnerable when all of the following are true:

  • The user does not configure an ErrorHandlingDeserializer for the key and/or value of the record
  • The user explicitly sets container properties checkDeserExWhenKeyNull and/or checkDeserExWhenValueNull container properties to true.
  • The user allows untrusted sources to publish to a Kafka topic

By default, these properties are false, and the container only attempts to deserialize the headers if an ErrorHandlingDeserializer is configured. The ErrorHandlingDeserializer prevents the vulnerability by removing any such malicious headers before processing the record.

Record
CVE-2023-34040
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-502
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 5.3

Java Deserialization vulnerability in Spring-Kafka When Improperly Configured

In Spring for Apache Kafka 3.0.9 and earlier and versions 2.9.10 and earlier, a possible deserialization attack vector existed, but only if unusual configuration was applied. An attacker would have to construct a malicious serialized object in one of the deserialization exception record headers.

Specifically, an application is vulnerable when all of the following are true:

  • The user does not configure an ErrorHandlingDeserializer for the key and/or value of the record
  • The user explicitly sets container properties checkDeserExWhenKeyNull and/or checkDeserExWhenValueNull container properties to true.
  • The user allows untrusted sources to publish to a Kafka topic

By default, these properties are false, and the container only attempts to deserialize the headers if an ErrorHandlingDeserializer is configured. The ErrorHandlingDeserializer prevents the vulnerability by removing any such malicious headers before processing the record.

Record
CVE-2023-34040
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
Weakness
CWE-502
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-crqf-q9fp-hwjw 7.8

Spring-Kafka has Java Deserialization vulnerability When Improperly Configured

In Spring for Apache Kafka 3.0.9 and earlier and versions 2.9.10 and earlier, a possible deserialization attack vector existed, but only if unusual configuration was applied. An attacker would have to construct a malicious serialized object in one of the deserialization exception record headers.

Specifically, an application is vulnerable when all of the following are true:

  • The user does not configure an ErrorHandlingDeserializer for the key and/or value of the record
  • The user explicitly sets container properties checkDeserExWhenKeyNull and/or checkDeserExWhenValueNull container properties to true.
  • The user allows untrusted sources to publish to a Kafka topic

By default, these properties are false, and the container only attempts to deserialize the headers if an ErrorHandlingDeserializer is configured. The ErrorHandlingDeserializer prevents the vulnerability by removing any such malicious headers before processing the record.

Record
GHSA-crqf-q9fp-hwjw
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-502
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka
Maven
3.0.0 up to 3.0.10
3.0.10
org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka
Maven
2.8.1 up to 2.9.11
2.9.11
org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka
Maven
2.8.1 up to 2.9.11, plus listed versions
2.8.102.8.112.8.22.8.32.8.4
Show 16 moreShow less
2.8.52.8.62.8.72.8.82.8.92.9.02.9.12.9.102.9.22.9.32.9.42.9.52.9.62.9.72.9.82.9.9
2.9.11
org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka
Maven
3.0.0 up to 3.0.10, plus listed versions
3.0.13.0.23.0.33.0.43.0.5
Show 4 moreShow less
3.0.63.0.73.0.83.0.9
3.0.10

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
PoC in GitHubContrast-Security-OSS/Spring-Kafka-POC-CVE-2023-340402023-08-30
PoC in GitHubbuiduchoang24/CVE-2023-340402024-04-24
PoC in GitHubhuyennhat-dev/cve-2023-340402024-05-27
PoC in GitHubpyn3rd/CVE-2023-340402023-09-28

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliases, publishedEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub

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

In short

CVE-2023-34040 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.3) in Spring For Apache Kafka, published August 24, 2023. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.09%, the 81st percentile. Fixed in org.springframework.kafka:spring-kafka 3.0.10.

References

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