open-telemetry opentelemetry-java-instrumentation up to 2.26.0 System Property deserialization

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in open-telemetry opentelemetry-java-instrumentation up to 2.26.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component System Property Handler. Performing a manipulation results in deserialization. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-33701. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in open-telemetry opentelemetry-java-instrumentation up to 2.26.0. This affects some unknown processing of the component System Property Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a deserialization vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-502. The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently verifying that the resulting data will be valid. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation provides OpenTelemetry auto-instrumentation and instrumentation libraries for Java. In versions prior to 2.26.1, the RMI instrumentation registered a custom endpoint that deserialized incoming data without applying serialization filters. On JDK version 16 and earlier, 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: First, OpenTelemetry Java instrumentation is attached as a Java agent (`-javaagent`) on Java 16 or earlier. Second, JMX/RMI port has been explicitly configured via `-Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.port` and is network-reachable. Third, gadget-chain-compatible library is present on the classpath. This results in arbitrary remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the instrumented JVM. For JDK >= 17, no action is required, but upgrading is strongly encouraged. For JDK < 17, upgrade to version 2.26.1 or later. As a workaround, set the system property `-Dotel.instrumentation.rmi.enabled=false` to disable the RMI integration.

The advisory is shared at github.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-33701 since 03/23/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available.

Upgrading to version 2.26.1 eliminates this vulnerability. The upgrade is hosted for download at github.com. Applying the patch 9cf4fbaaa9e79226142b2ed42a6f6b4ac0be2197 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at github.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Programming Language Software

Vendor

• open-telemetry

Name

• opentelemetry-java-instrumentation

Version

• 2.0
• 2.1
• 2.2
• 2.3
• 2.4
• 2.5
• 2.6
• 2.7
• 2.8
• 2.9
• 2.10
• 2.11
• 2.12
• 2.13
• 2.14
• 2.15
• 2.16
• 2.17
• 2.18
• 2.19
• 2.20
• 2.21
• 2.22
• 2.23
• 2.24
• 2.25
• 2.26.0

License

• open-source

Website

• Product: https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Discussion