CVE-2026-22886 in OpenMQ
Summary
by MITRE • 03/03/2026
OpenMQ exposes a TCP-based management service (imqbrokerd) that by default requires authentication. However, the product ships with a default administrative account (admin/ admin) and does not enforce a mandatory password change on first use. After the first successful login, the server continues to accept the default password indefinitely without warning or enforcement.
In real-world deployments, this service is often left enabled without changing the default credentials. As a result, a remote attacker with access to the service port could authenticate as an administrator and gain full control of the protocol’s administrative features.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2026-22886 represents a critical authentication flaw in Oracle's OpenMQ messaging system that directly violates fundamental security principles. This issue affects the imqbrokerd management service which operates over TCP and typically listens on port 7676 by default. The flaw stems from the product's default configuration that includes a hardcoded administrative account with username 'admin' and password 'admin', a practice that has been widely criticized in security communities as it creates a predictable attack surface that significantly weakens the overall security posture of the system. The vulnerability is classified as a weak credential issue that aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software, and also relates to CWE-620, which covers weak password requirements and enforcement mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows for a straightforward privilege escalation attack path where an unauthenticated remote attacker can connect to the management service and immediately authenticate using the default credentials without any additional verification or enforcement mechanisms. This design flaw exists because the system fails to implement mandatory password change policies upon first login, creating a persistent backdoor that remains active indefinitely once discovered. The service continues to accept the default password without any warnings or enforcement, effectively providing attackers with persistent administrative access that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary commands, modify system configurations, or access sensitive message queues. This behavior violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a critical failure in the authentication system's mandatory password change enforcement mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple credential exposure, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the messaging infrastructure. Once authenticated, an attacker can manipulate message queues, alter routing configurations, access message contents, and potentially disrupt critical business processes that depend on the messaging system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where OpenMQ is often deployed as a core component of message-oriented middleware, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to gain access to sensitive data flows. The default configuration issue creates a scenario where organizations are left vulnerable without any awareness of the exposure, as the service typically runs with default settings in production environments. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, with the persistent nature of the default credentials enabling long-term access and potential lateral movement within networks.
Organizations should immediately implement mandatory password change policies for all administrative accounts, disable the management service when not required, and ensure that default credentials are changed upon initial system deployment. The recommended mitigations include implementing network segmentation to restrict access to the management port, deploying firewall rules to limit access to trusted IP addresses, and conducting regular security assessments to identify any systems running with default configurations. Additionally, system administrators should enable account lockout mechanisms, implement strong password policies, and consider disabling the management service entirely in environments where it is not required. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper configuration management and the need for organizations to implement security controls that prevent the use of default credentials in production systems. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing should be conducted to identify systems that may still be running with default administrative accounts, and security awareness training should be provided to administrators to ensure they understand the risks associated with leaving default credentials unchanged.