CVE-2026-44617 in Zeppelin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
LDAP filter injection vulnerability in Apache Zeppelin. LdapRealm used RFC 4514 distinguished-name escaping when constructing LDAP search filters instead of RFC 4515 filter escaping, leaving special filter characters insufficiently escaped. This is an incomplete fix of CVE-2024-31867. This issue affects Apache Zeppelin versions 0.11.1, 0.11.2, and 0.12.0. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 0.12.1, which fixes this issue.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
Apache Zeppelin contains a critical ldap filter injection vulnerability that stems from improper handling of special characters during ldap search filter construction. The vulnerability exists within the LdapRealm component where the system employs RFC 4514 distinguished-name escaping mechanisms instead of the proper RFC 4515 filter escaping standards when building ldap search queries. This fundamental flaw in escaping methodology creates a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary ldap filter expressions into authentication requests, effectively bypassing access controls and potentially gaining unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation flaw manifests when user-provided input containing special ldap filter characters such as parentheses, asterisks, ampersands, or other control characters is processed without adequate sanitization. These characters have specific meanings within ldap filter syntax where parentheses denote logical operations, asterisks represent wildcards, and other symbols define comparison operators. When the system fails to properly escape these characters according to RFC 4515 standards, attackers can manipulate the constructed ldap search filters to execute unintended queries against the directory service, potentially retrieving unauthorized data or escalating privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypasses as it represents a significant elevation in attack surface for zeppelin deployments. Organizations utilizing apache zeppelin with ldap authentication are at risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data processing environments, particularly when the system is configured to use ldap realms for user management and access control. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-74 improper neutralization of special elements used in a command or query, specifically within the context of ldap filter construction where input validation fails to account for the semantic meaning of ldap syntax elements.
The security implications align with ATT&CK technique T1078 valid accounts, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to leverage legitimate ldap credentials while manipulating authentication flows through crafted filter injections. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple versions including 0.11.1, 0.11.2, and 0.12.0, indicating a persistent issue in the codebase that required remediation in version 0.12.1. The incomplete nature of this fix compared to CVE-2024-31867 suggests that organizations should verify their deployment configurations and ensure comprehensive testing of ldap integration components. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to version 0.12.1, which contains the proper RFC 4515 filter escaping implementation, while also considering network-level restrictions and monitoring for suspicious ldap query patterns.
Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their apache zeppelin deployments to identify systems running vulnerable versions and implement additional controls such as input validation at multiple layers, ldap query logging for anomaly detection, and regular security scanning of authentication components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of adhering to established standards for escaping special characters in security-sensitive contexts, particularly when dealing with directory service integration where malformed queries can have cascading effects on system integrity and data confidentiality.