Apache Camel: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
CVE-2026-85251 is a high-severity exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor vulnerability in Apache Camel from Apache, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 4.18.5, 4.22.1 as the first without the flaw, so updating Apache Camel to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.66% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 52% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Apache Camel to 4.18.5 or 4.22.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Camel to 4.18.5 or 4.22.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on camel.apache.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache | Apache Camel | 4.0.0 up to, but not including, 4.18.5; 4.19.0 up to, but not including, 4.22.1 | 4.18.5, 4.22.1 |
| Apache | Camel | 4.0.0 up to, but not including, 4.18.5; 4.19.0 up to, but not including, 4.22.1 | 4.18.5, 4.22.1 |
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
- 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
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by CNA (apache.org).
Official description
Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability in Apache Camel HTTP component. This issue affects Apache Camel: from 4.0.0 before 4.18.5, from 4.19.0 before 4.22.1. Two paths handed credentials to a redirect target, which is a host chosen by the remote server rather than by the route, once followRedirects=true. OAuth2ClientConfigurer registers its interceptor with addRequestInterceptorFirst, and HttpClient runs protocol-level request interceptors inside ProtocolExec, which sits below RedirectExec in the exec chain; the interceptor therefore ran again for every redirect hop and re-attached Authorization: Bearer to whatever host the Location header named. Separately, credentials were registered against an AuthScope matching any host, so basic and digest credentials were presented to a redirect target as well. A remote endpoint - or anyone who can influence its responses - could therefore collect the bearer token or the configured credentials simply by answering with a redirect to a host it controls. Upgrade to Apache Camel 4.23.0, which fixes the issue. Users on the 4.18.x LTS releases stream should upgrade to 4.18.5. Users on the 4.22.x LTS releases stream should upgrade to 4.22.1. Credentials are now sent only to the authority the endpoint was configured with, and are not re-attached when a redirect crosses to another host. For deployments that cannot upgrade immediately, set followRedirects=false on endpoints that carry credentials, and handle any redirect explicitly in the route so that the destination is chosen by the route rather than by the remote server.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
More Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerabilities (CWE-200)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- camel.apache.org/security/CVE-2026-85251.htmlMitigation
- issues.apache.org/jira/browse/CAMEL-24452Issue Tracking
Patches and release notes
- github.com/apache/camel/pull/25830Issue Tracking
- github.com/apache/camel/pull/25937Issue Tracking
- github.com/apache/camel/pull/25938Issue Tracking
Other vulnerabilities in Apache Camel
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
Recent Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerabilities
- 8.5 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.