Apache Karaf: OS Command Injection in Child-Instance Launch (instance:* / InstancesMBean)

MITRE NVD CVE.ORG JSON API

Summary

CVECVE-2026-91006
StatePUBLISHED
Assignerapache
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2026-09-28 11:16:48 UTC
Updated2026-09-29 22:19:03 UTC
DescriptionApache Karaf's instance-management service (InstanceServiceImpl) builds the command line used to launch a child Karaf JVM by string concatenation, then executes it through /bin/sh (Unix) or cscript (Windows). The caller-supplied javaOpts value is spliced into that string unquoted. A javaOpts value containing shell metacharacters (;, |, `, $(...)) is interpreted by the shell instead of being passed to the JVM as an option, giving arbitrary OS command execution as the Karaf process user. Reachable via the shell commands instance:create, instance:start, instance:restart, instance:change-opts, and the equivalent InstanceMBean JMX operations (createInstance, startInstance, changeJavaOpts, cloneInstance). Mitigation  * Set karaf.secured.command.compulsory.roles=admin in etc/system.properties to close the fail-open gap for all unconfigured command scopes. * Restrict which principals can reach instance:* commands and InstancesMBean via etc/users.properties role assignments. * Treat javaOpts passed to instance:create/instance:start/instance:change-opts/InstancesMBean as untrusted input only from fully-trusted operators.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 8.8 HIGH from ADP

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

EPSS: 0.004010000 probability, percentile 0.318130000 (date 2026-09-29)

Problem Types: CWE-78 | CWE-78 CWE-78 Improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command ('OS command injection')

VersionSourceTypeScoreSeverityVector
3.1ADPDECLARED8.8HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
3.1134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0Secondary8.8HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

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

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

Vendor Declared Affected Products

SourceVendorProductVersionPlatforms
CNA Apache Software Foundation Apache Karaf affected 4.4.12 semver Not specified

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
lists.apache.org/thread/olzy0yjw82b20w59vonfjr1x7v5yzocr [email protected] lists.apache.org
www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/09/28/3 af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108 www.openwall.com
CVE Program record CVE.ORG www.cve.org canonical
NVD vulnerability detail NVD nvd.nist.gov canonical, analysis

Vendor Comments And Credit

Discovery Credit

CNA: n0mi1k <[email protected]> (en)

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