streams for Apache Kafka 2: Improper Authentication
CVE-2026-105949 is a high-severity improper authentication vulnerability in streams for Apache Kafka 2 from Red Hat, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.33% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of streams for Apache Kafka 2 you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat | streams for Apache Kafka 2 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | streams for Apache Kafka 3 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
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
- AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- 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:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (redhat.com).
Official description
Cruise Control's Jetty ConstraintSecurityHandler registers security constraints on exact path specs without a catch-all wildcard constraint and without calling setDenyUncoveredHttpMethods(true). The servlet routes requests using Path.of(pathInfo).getFileName(), which strips all leading segments and trailing slashes. Requests like POST /kafkacruisecontrol/x/rebalance bypass authentication entirely but still dispatch to admin endpoints. All 15 admin endpoints become reachable without authentication. In AMQ Streams, the Strimzi operator's NetworkPolicy restricts Cruise Control port 9090 to operator pods only, reducing effective severity to Important.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication
When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.
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
Patches and release notes
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in streams for Apache Kafka 2
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 8.0 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
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