CVE-2023-51518
Apache James server: Privilege escalation via JMX pre-authentication deserialisation
Apache James prior to version 3.7.5 and 3.8.0 exposes a JMX endpoint on localhost subject to pre-authentication deserialisation of untrusted data. Given a deserialisation gadjet, this could be leveraged as part of an exploit chain that could result in privilege escalation. Note that by default JMX endpoint is only bound locally.
We recommend users to: - Upgrade to a non-vulnerable Apache James version
- Run Apache James isolated from other processes (docker - dedicated virtual machine) - If possible turn off JMX
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
CVE List Score used
Apache James server: Privilege escalation via JMX pre-authentication deserialisation
Apache James prior to version 3.7.5 and 3.8.0 exposes a JMX endpoint on localhost subject to pre-authentication deserialisation of untrusted data. Given a deserialisation gadjet, this could be leveraged as part of an exploit chain that could result in privilege escalation. Note that by default JMX endpoint is only bound locally.
We recommend users to: - Upgrade to a non-vulnerable Apache James version
- Run Apache James isolated from other processes (docker - dedicated virtual machine) - If possible turn off JMX
- Record
CVE-2023-51518- 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-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2024-0689
Apache James prior to version 3.7.5 and 3.8.0 exposes a JMX endpoint on localhost subject to pre-authentication deserialisation of untrusted data. Given a deserialisation gadjet, this could be leveraged as part of an exploit chain that could result in privilege escalation. Note that by default JMX endpoint is only bound locally.
We recommend users to: - Upgrade to a non-vulnerable Apache James version
- Run Apache James isolated from other processes (docker - dedicated virtual machine) - If possible turn off JMX
- Record
EUVD-2024-0689- 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
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-px7w-c9gw-7gj3
Apache James server: Privilege escalation via JMX pre-authentication deserialization
Apache James prior to version 3.7.5 and 3.8.0 exposes a JMX endpoint on localhost subject to pre-authentication deserialisation of untrusted data. Given a deserialisation gadjet, this could be leveraged as part of an exploit chain that could result in privilege escalation. Note that by default JMX endpoint is only bound locally.
We recommend users to: - Upgrade to a non-vulnerable Apache James version
- Run Apache James isolated from other processes (docker - dedicated virtual machine) - If possible turn off JMX
- Record
GHSA-px7w-c9gw-7gj3- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - 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-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
Apache James prior to version 3.7.5 and 3.8.0 exposes a JMX endpoint on localhost subject to pre-authentication deserialisation of untrusted data. Given a deserialisation gadjet, this could be leveraged as part of an exploit chain that could result in privilege escalation. Note that by default JMX endpoint is only bound locally.
We recommend users to: - Upgrade to a non-vulnerable Apache James version
- Run Apache James isolated from other processes (docker - dedicated virtual machine) - If possible turn off JMX
- Record
CVE-2023-51518- 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-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
Apache James server: Privilege escalation via JMX pre-authentication deserialisation
Apache James prior to version 3.7.5 and 3.8.0 exposes a JMX endpoint on localhost subject to pre-authentication deserialisation of untrusted data. Given a deserialisation gadjet, this could be leveraged as part of an exploit chain that could result in privilege escalation. Note that by default JMX endpoint is only bound locally.
We recommend users to: - Upgrade to a non-vulnerable Apache James version
- Run Apache James isolated from other processes (docker - dedicated virtual machine) - If possible turn off JMX
- Record
CVE-2023-51518- 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-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-px7w-c9gw-7gj3
Apache James server: Privilege escalation via JMX pre-authentication deserialization
Apache James prior to version 3.7.5 and 3.8.0 exposes a JMX endpoint on localhost subject to pre-authentication deserialisation of untrusted data. Given a deserialisation gadjet, this could be leveraged as part of an exploit chain that could result in privilege escalation. Note that by default JMX endpoint is only bound locally.
We recommend users to: - Upgrade to a non-vulnerable Apache James version
- Run Apache James isolated from other processes (docker - dedicated virtual machine) - If possible turn off JMX
- Record
GHSA-px7w-c9gw-7gj3- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - 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-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.james:james-serverMaven |
through 3.7.4 | 3.7.5 |
org.apache.james:james-serverMaven |
3.8.0 up to 3.8.1 | 3.8.1 |
org.apache.james:james-serverMaven |
before 3.7.5, plus listed versions 3.0-M13.0-M23.0-beta23.0-beta33.0-beta4 Show 16 moreShow less3.0.03.0.0-RC13.0.0-beta53.0.13.1.03.2.03.3.03.4.03.5.03.6.03.6.23.7.03.7.13.7.23.7.33.7.4 |
3.7.5 |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | mbadanoiu/CVE-2023-51518 | 2024-06-03 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, published | 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-2023-51518 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Apache James, published February 27, 2024. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.19%, the 68th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.james:james-server 3.7.5.