GitHub Advisoryadvisory · Maven

GHSA-xw7x-h9fj-p2c7 OpenTelemetry: Unsafe Deserialization in RMI Instrumentation may Lead to Remote Code Execution

CRITICAL Published 2026-03-25 Modified 2026-07-29 Official page ↗
Aliases
CVE-2026-33701
Ecosystem
Maven
Packages
io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent
Severity
Critical
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weaknesses
CWE-502
Reviewed
2026-03-25

Affected packages

• Maven io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent: < 2.26.1 → fixed in 2.26.1

Description

In versions prior to 2.26.1, the RMI instrumentation registered a custom endpoint that deserialized incoming data without applying serialization filters. An attacker with network access to a JMX or RMI port on an instrumented JVM could exploit this to potentially achieve remote code execution. All three of the following conditions must be true to exploit this vulnerability: 1. OpenTelemetry Java instrumentation is attached as a Java agent (`-javaagent`) 2. An RMI endpoint is network-reachable (e.g. JMX remote port, an RMI registry, or any application-exported RMI service) 3. A gadget-chain-compatible library is present on the classpath Impact Arbitrary remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the instrumented JVM. Recommendation Upgrade to version 2.26.1 or later. Workarounds Set the following system property to disable the RMI integration: ``` -Dotel.instrumentation.rmi.enabled=false ``` Credits This vulnerability was responsibly disclosed in coordination with Datadog.

Related

Alias · CVE (1)

  • CVE-2026-33701 OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation provides OpenTelemetry auto-instrumentation and instrumentation libraries for Java. vulnerability

Weakness · CWE (1)

  • CWE-502 Deserialization of Untrusted Data weakness

References