GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f
splunk-otel-javaagent: Unsafe deserialization in RMI instrumentation may lead to Remote Code Execution
In versions prior to 2.26.1, the RMI instrumentation registered a custom endpoint that deserialized incoming data without applying serialization filters. An attacker with network access to a JMX or RMI port on an instrumented JVM could exploit this to potentially achieve remote code execution. All three of the following conditions must be true to exploit this vulnerability:
- Splunk Distribution of OpenTelemetry Java is attached as a Java agent (
-javaagent) - An RMI endpoint is network-reachable (e.g. JMX remote port, an RMI registry, or any application-exported RMI service)
- A gadget-chain-compatible library is present on the classpath
Impact
Arbitrary remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the instrumented JVM.
Recommendation
Upgrade to version 2.26.1 or later.
Workarounds
Set the following system property to disable the RMI integration:
-Dotel.instrumentation.rmi.enabled=false
References
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
What each source reports
GitHub Advisories Score used
splunk-otel-javaagent: Unsafe deserialization in RMI instrumentation may lead to Remote Code Execution
In versions prior to 2.26.1, the RMI instrumentation registered a custom endpoint that deserialized incoming data without applying serialization filters. An attacker with network access to a JMX or RMI port on an instrumented JVM could exploit this to potentially achieve remote code execution. All three of the following conditions must be true to exploit this vulnerability:
- Splunk Distribution of OpenTelemetry Java is attached as a Java agent (
-javaagent) - An RMI endpoint is network-reachable (e.g. JMX remote port, an RMI registry, or any application-exported RMI service)
- A gadget-chain-compatible library is present on the classpath
Impact
Arbitrary remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the instrumented JVM.
Recommendation
Upgrade to version 2.26.1 or later.
Workarounds
Set the following system property to disable the RMI integration:
-Dotel.instrumentation.rmi.enabled=false
References
- Record
GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f- 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 - Weakness
- CWE-502, CWE-1395
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
splunk-otel-javaagent: Unsafe deserialization in RMI instrumentation may lead to Remote Code Execution
In versions prior to 2.26.1, the RMI instrumentation registered a custom endpoint that deserialized incoming data without applying serialization filters. An attacker with network access to a JMX or RMI port on an instrumented JVM could exploit this to potentially achieve remote code execution. All three of the following conditions must be true to exploit this vulnerability:
- Splunk Distribution of OpenTelemetry Java is attached as a Java agent (
-javaagent) - An RMI endpoint is network-reachable (e.g. JMX remote port, an RMI registry, or any application-exported RMI service)
- A gadget-chain-compatible library is present on the classpath
Impact
Arbitrary remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the instrumented JVM.
Recommendation
Upgrade to version 2.26.1 or later.
Workarounds
Set the following system property to disable the RMI integration:
-Dotel.instrumentation.rmi.enabled=false
References
- Record
GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f- 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 - Weakness
- CWE-1395, CWE-502
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
com.splunk:splunk-otel-javaagentMaven | before 2.26.1 | 2.26.1 |
com.splunk:splunk-otel-javaagentMaven | before 2.26.1, plus listed versions 1.10.01.10.11.10.21.11.01.12.0 Show 45 moreShow less1.13.01.13.11.14.01.14.11.14.21.15.01.16.01.17.01.18.01.19.01.2.01.20.01.21.01.22.01.23.01.23.11.24.01.24.11.25.01.26.01.27.01.28.01.29.01.29.11.3.01.3.11.30.01.30.11.30.21.30.31.31.01.31.11.32.01.32.11.32.21.32.31.32.41.32.51.4.01.5.01.6.01.6.11.7.01.7.11.7.2 | 2.26.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | GitHub Advisories, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
GHSA-h8w2-rv57-vc6f is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.3) in com.splunk:splunk-otel-javaagent, published March 26, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. Fixed in com.splunk:splunk-otel-javaagent 2.26.1.
References
Left out here: 39 versions. The JSON record has them.