Apache Spark, Apache Spark: RPC encryption defaults to unauthenticated AES-CTR mode, enabling man-in-the-middle ciphertext modification attacks

MITRE NVD CVE.ORG JSON API

Summary

CVECVE-2025-55039
StatePUBLISHED
Assignerapache
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2025-10-15 08:15:38 UTC
Updated2026-10-08 12:10:00 UTC
DescriptionThis issue affects Apache Spark versions before 3.4.4, 3.5.2 and 4.0.0. Apache Spark versions before 4.0.0, 3.5.2 and 3.4.4 use an insecure default network encryption cipher for RPC communication between nodes. When spark.network.crypto.enabled is set to true (it is set to false by default), but spark.network.crypto.cipher is not explicitly configured, Spark defaults to AES in CTR mode (AES/CTR/NoPadding), which provides encryption without authentication. This vulnerability allows a man-in-the-middle attacker to modify encrypted RPC traffic undetected by flipping bits in ciphertext, potentially compromising heartbeat messages or application data and affecting the integrity of Spark workflows. To mitigate this issue, users should either configure spark.network.crypto.cipher to AES/GCM/NoPadding to enable authenticated encryption or enable SSL encryption by setting spark.ssl.enabled to true, which provides stronger transport security.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 6.5 MEDIUM from ADP

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

Problem Types: CWE-326 | CWE-347 | CWE-347 CWE-347 Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature | CWE-326 CWE-326 Inadequate Encryption Strength

VersionSourceTypeScoreSeverityVector
3.1ADPDECLARED6.5MEDIUMCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
3.1134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0Secondary6.5MEDIUMCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

NVD Known Affected Configurations (CPE 2.3)

TypeVendorProductVersionUpdateEditionLanguage
Application Apache Spark All All All All

Vendor Declared Affected Products

SourceVendorProductVersionPlatforms
CNA Apache Software Foundation Apache Spark affected 3.5.0 3.5.2 semver Not specified
CNA Apache Software Foundation Apache Spark affected 3.4.4 semver Not specified
CNA Apache Software Foundation Apache Spark affected 3.5.0 3.5.2 semver Not specified
CNA Apache Software Foundation Apache Spark affected 3.4.4 semver Not specified

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/14/11 af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108 www.openwall.com
lists.apache.org/thread/zrgyy9l85nm2c7vk36vr7bkyorg3w4qq [email protected] lists.apache.org Mailing List, Vendor Advisory
CVE Program record CVE.ORG www.cve.org canonical
NVD vulnerability detail NVD nvd.nist.gov canonical, analysis

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