Apache Cassandra: Privilege Defined With Unsafe Actions
CVE-2025-23015 is a high-severity privilege defined with unsafe actions vulnerability in Apache Cassandra from Apache, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected Apache Cassandra versions: 3.0.0 through 3.0.30; 3.1.0 through 3.11.17; 4.0.0 through 4.0.15, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 63% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Cassandra to 3.0.31 or 3.11.18 or 4.0.16 or 4.1.8, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on lists.apache.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache | Apache Cassandra | 3.0.0 through 3.0.30; 3.1.0 through 3.11.17; 4.0.0 through 4.0.15; 4.1.0 through 4.1.7; 5.0.0 through 5.0.2 | Not stated |
| Apache | Cassandra | 3.0.0 up to, but not including, 3.0.31; 3.1 up to, but not including, 3.11.18; 4.0.0 up to, but not including, 4.0.16; 4.1.0 up to, but not including, 4.1.8; 5.0.0 up to, but not including, 5.0.3 | 3.0.31, 3.11.18, 4.0.16, 4.1.8, 5.0.3 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
Privilege Defined With Unsafe Actions vulnerability in Apache Cassandra. An user with MODIFY permission ON ALL KEYSPACES can escalate privileges to superuser within a targeted Cassandra cluster via unsafe actions to a system resource. Operators granting data MODIFY permission on all keyspaces on affected versions should review data access rules for potential breaches. This issue affects Apache Cassandra through 3.0.30, 3.11.17, 4.0.15, 4.1.7, 5.0.2. Users are recommended to upgrade to versions 3.0.31, 3.11.18, 4.0.16, 4.1.8, 5.0.3, which fixes the issue.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Privilege Defined With Unsafe Actions
A particular privilege, role, capability, or right can be used to perform unsafe actions that were not intended, even when it is assigned to the correct entity.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Run your code using the lowest privileges that are required to accomplish the necessary tasks. If possible, create isolated accounts with limited privileges that are only used for a single task. That way, a successful attack will not immediately give the attacker access to the rest of the software or its environment. For example, database applications rarely need to run as the database administrator, especially in day-to-day operations.
More Privilege Defined With Unsafe Actions vulnerabilities (CWE-267)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- lists.apache.org/thread/jmks4msbgkl65ssg69x728sv1m0hwz3sIssue Tracking, Mailing List
Third-party and government advisories
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/02/03/2Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/02/11/1Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20250214-0006/Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in Apache Cassandra
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Privilege Defined With Unsafe Actions vulnerabilities
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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