9.1

CVE-2023-44981: apache software foundation apache zookeeper

CVSS: 9.1v3.1CriticalModified
AliasesUBUNTU-CVE-2023-44981DEBIAN-CVE-2023-44981DLA-3624-1
Published 11-10-2023Last modified 23-04-2025
Open JSON

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2023-44981 is a critical (CVSS 9.1) vulnerability in apache software foundation apache zookeeper. EPSS estimates a 2.22% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 82.3% of scored vulnerabilities.

Overall risk
70/100
0100
High · default modelHow is this calculated?
CVSS score
9.1/10
010
Critical · v3.1 (CVE.org)
EPSS score
2.22%
0%100%
Low · +0.51 pp in 30 days
KEVNot listedIn no KEV catalog
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits0No public exploits recorded

Advisory lineage

Upstream 0 · Downstream 1 · Related 3
USN-6559-1CGA-2Q8C-QQ7G-MXWHCGA-R4GP-JW3V-M8J8

Timeline

  1. 11-10-2023
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 23-04-2025
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerability in Apache ZooKeeper. If SASL Quorum Peer authentication is enabled in ZooKeeper (quorum.auth.enableSasl=true), the authorization is done by verifying that the instance part in SASL authentication ID is listed in zoo.cfg server list. The instance part in SASL auth ID is optional and if it's missing, like 'eve@EXAMPLE.COM', the authorization check will be skipped. As a result an arbitrary endpoint could join the cluster and begin propagating counterfeit changes to the leader, essentially giving it complete read-write access to the data tree. Quorum Peer authentication is not enabled by default. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.9.1, 3.8.3, 3.7.2, which fixes the issue. Alternately ensure the ensemble election/quorum communication is protected by a firewall as this will mitigate the issue. See the documentation for more details on correct cluster administration.

CVSS metrics

7 scores · 7 sources · 1 version

EPSS trend

Probability

2.22%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

82%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

+0.51 pp

From 1.71% on 18-09-2026

18-09-202618-10-2026
EPSS score
2.22%

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs

Not in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.

Public exploits

0 found

No public exploits indexed.

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

Affected systems

Debian2 products
  • zookeeper< 3.9.1-1 | < 3.4.13-6+deb11u1 | < 3.8.0-11+deb12u1 | < 3.4.13-2+deb10u1
  • debian_linuxEOL10.0 | 11.0 | 12.0
Apache1 product
  • zookeeper< 3.7.2 | ≥ 3.8.0, < 3.8.3 | 3.9.0
Apache software foundation1 product
  • apache zookeeper≥ 3.9.0, < 3.9.1 | ≥ 3.8.0, ≤ 3.8.2 | ≥ 3.7.0, ≤ 3.7.1 | < 3.7.0
Chainguard1 product
  • trino< 478-r2
Org.apache.zookeeper1 product
  • zookeeper< 3.7.2 | ≥ 3.8.0, < 3.8.3 | ≥ 3.9.0, < 3.9.1
Ubuntu1 product
  • zookeeper< 3.4.13-3ubuntu0.1~esm1 | < 3.4.13-5ubuntu0.1 | < 3.4.13-6ubuntu4.1
Wolfi1 product
  • trino< 478-r2

7 vendors · 8 products

References

17 links
Show all 17 references