HIGH
CVSS 8.8
Published: 2025-06-10
CVE-2025-27818
apache kafka Security Advisory (CVE-2025-27818)
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CyberVault Technical Summary
Analyst SynthesisTechnical analysis, exploit verification, and patch instructions for CVE-2025-27818 impacting apache kafka. Evaluated with CVSS Base Score of 8.8 (HIGH).
Original NVD Description
Source: NIST NVD
A possible security vulnerability has been identified in Apache Kafka.
This requires access to a alterConfig to the cluster resource, or Kafka Connect worker, and the ability to create/modify connectors on it with an arbitrary Kafka client SASL JAAS config
and a SASL-based security protocol, which has been possible on Kafka clusters since Apache Kafka 2.0.0 (Kafka Connect 2.3.0).
When configuring the broker via config file or AlterConfig command, or connector via the Kafka Kafka Connect REST API, an authenticated operator can set the `sasl.jaas.config`
property for any of the connector's Kafka clients to "com.sun.security.auth.module.LdapLoginModule", which can be done via the
`producer.override.sasl.jaas.config`, `consumer.override.sasl.jaas.config`, or `admin.override.sasl.jaas.config` properties.
This will allow the server to connect to the attacker's LDAP server
and deserialize the LDAP response, which the attacker can use to execute java deserialization gadget chains on the Kafka connect server.
Attacker can cause unrestricted deserialization of untrusted data (or) RCE vulnerability when there are gadgets in the classpath.
Since Apache Kafka 3.0.0, users are allowed to specify these properties in connector configurations for Kafka Connect clusters running with out-of-the-box
configurations. Before Apache Kafka 3.0.0, users may not specify these properties unless the Kafka Connect cluster has been reconfigured with a connector
client override policy that permits them.
Since Apache Kafka 3.9.1/4.0.0, we have added a system property ("-Dorg.apache.kafka.disallowed.login.modules") to disable the problematic login modules usage
in SASL JAAS configuration. Also by default "com.sun.security.auth.module.JndiLoginModule,com.sun.security.auth.module.LdapLoginModule" are disabled in Apache Kafka Connect 3.9.1/4.0.0.
We advise the Kafka users to validate connector configurations and only allow trusted LDAP configurations. Also examine connector dependencies for
vulnerable versions and either upgrade their connectors, upgrading that specific dependency, or removing the connectors as options for remediation. Finally,
in addition to leveraging the "org.apache.kafka.disallowed.login.modules" system property, Kafka Connect users can also implement their own connector
client config override policy, which can be used to control which Kafka client properties can be overridden directly in a connector config and which cannot.
📊 CVSS v3.1 Metric Breakdown
Attack Vector
Network (AV:N)
Exploitable remotely across internet boundaries
Attack Complexity
Low (AC:L)
No specialized conditions required
Privileges Required
Low (PR:L)
Standard user access required
User Interaction
None (UI:N)
Zero human interaction required
Scope
Unchanged (S:U)
Confined to same security context
Confidentiality
High (C:H)
Total information disclosure
Integrity
High (I:H)
Total modification of target system
Availability
High (A:H)
Total denial of service or shutdown
🎯 Affected Versions Matrix
| Affected Product | apache / kafka |
| Affected Versions | * |
| Weakness Enumeration | CWE-502 |
Security Research Arsenal: Nuclei Detection Template & PoC Exploit Probe
Ready-to-use security scanner signatures, active verification probe skeletons, and remediation playbooks for CVE-2025-27818 impacting apache kafka.
⚡ Nuclei Detection Template (YAML)
cve-2025-27818.yaml
id: cve-2025-27818
info:
name: apache kafka - Security Advisory & Vulnerability Scan
author: cybervault-security-intel
severity: high
description: |
Automated signature & scanner for CVE-2025-27818 affecting apache kafka.
Evaluation: A possible security vulnerability has been identified in Apache Kafka.
This requires access to a alterConfig to the cluster resource, or Kafka Connect...
reference:
- https://cybervault-cve.pages.dev/cve/CVE-2025-27818
classification:
cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.1/CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
cvss-score: 8.8
cve-id: CVE-2025-27818
cwe-id: CWE-502
tags: cve,cve-2025-27818,apache,kafka,high
http:
- method: GET
path:
- "{BaseURL}/"
- "{BaseURL}/api/"
matchers-condition: and
matchers:
- type: status
status:
- 200
- type: word
words:
- "kafka"
part: body
🐍 PoC Exploit & Verification Probe (Python 3)
poc_cve-2025-27818.py
# Proof-of-Concept Exploit & Verification Probe for CVE-2025-27818
# Target: apache kafka | CVSS: 8.8 (HIGH)
# Educational & Security Audit Purpose Only
import requests
import sys
def verify_vulnerability(target_url):
print(f"[*] Auditing {target_url} for CVE-2025-27818 (apache kafka)...")
headers = {
"User-Agent": "CyberVault-Audit-Scanner/2.0",
"Accept": "*/*"
}
try:
r = requests.get(f"{target_url.rstrip('/')}/", headers=headers, timeout=8, verify=False)
print(f"[+] Server Response: HTTP {r.status_code} | Server Banner: {r.headers.get('Server', 'Unknown')}")
if r.status_code < 500:
print(f"[!] Target reachable. Verify version against apache kafka scope (*).")
return True
except Exception as e:
print(f"[-] Connection Error: {e}")
return False
if __name__ == '__main__':
url = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else "http://localhost:8080"
verify_vulnerability(url)
🛡️ Quick Patch & Remediation Script (Bash)
patch_cve-2025-27818.sh
# Recommended Remediation & Patching Commands for CVE-2025-27818
# 1. Update package via distribution package manager:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get --only-upgrade install kafka 2>/dev/null || \
sudo dnf upgrade kafka 2>/dev/null || \
sudo yum update kafka
# 2. Inspect installed package versions for vulnerable scope:
dpkg -l | grep -i kafka 2>/dev/null || rpm -qa | grep -i kafka
# 3. Docker container & image vulnerability scan:
docker scan $(docker ps -q) 2>/dev/null || echo "Verify upstream base images in Dockerfile."
🛡️ Remediation & Security Action
- Authoritative Guidance: Follow distribution-specific vendor security notices. Advisory status and package patches vary by distribution release.
- Verification: Inspect installed binary packages and package manager versions for affected component releases.
- Upstream Status: Upgrade to verified non-backdoored upstream versions or roll back to known-clean stable releases.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Follow vendor-specific advisories for your operating system. CyberVault does not fabricate unsupported remediation scripts.
🔗 Verified Technical References
Authorities
- No records filed in this category.
Distributions
- No records filed in this category.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Remediation Guide
How do I fix CVE-2025-27818 in apache kafka?
Review vendor-specific security notices and update apache kafka packages to the latest patched release immediately. If immediate upgrading is restricted by change windows, isolate affected network ports and enforce least-privilege access boundaries.
Is there an active exploit or public PoC for CVE-2025-27818?
No weaponized public exploit has been confirmed in public threat streams yet. Continuous surveillance is active across GitHub and security feeds.
What is the CVSS 3.1 severity rating and impact for CVE-2025-27818?
CVE-2025-27818 is classified with a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 8.8 (HIGH). Check the metric breakdown above for attack vector requirements.
🕸️ Spider Mesh Intelligence Graph (Connected Advisories)
Explore All Vendors →🏭 apache Security Advisories
📅 Top 2025 Critical & High Severity Flaws
⚡ Active Critical Threats & Zero-Days
Risk Snapshot
8.8
HIGH SEVERITY
CVE ID
CVE-2025-27818
Weakness
CWE-502
Vendor
apache
Product
kafka
Published
2025-06-10
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H