Apache Camel up to 4.18.2/4.20.x Camel-PQC java.io.ObjectInputStream deserialization

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apache Camel up to 4.18.2/4.20.x. It has been classified as critical. The affected element is the function java.io.ObjectInputStream of the component Camel-PQC. The manipulation leads to deserialization. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2026-43867. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apache Camel up to 4.18.2/4.20.x and classified as critical. This issue affects the function java.io.ObjectInputStream of the component Camel-PQC. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a deserialization vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-502. The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently verifying that the resulting data will be valid. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in Apache Camel PQC Component. The camel-pqc component persists post-quantum key metadata (KeyMetadata) through pluggable KeyLifecycleManager implementations. AwsSecretsManagerKeyLifecycleManager.deserializeMetadata() reads that metadata back from the configured AWS Secrets Manager secret by Base64-decoding the stored value and deserializing it with a raw java.io.ObjectInputStream.readObject() and no ObjectInputFilter or class allow-list; the cast to KeyMetadata happens only after readObject() returns, so any readObject() side effects in a crafted object run before the type check. A principal who can write to the AWS Secrets Manager secret that holds this metadata (requiring secretsmanager:PutSecretValue on that secret) could store a crafted serialized object that is deserialized during normal key-lifecycle operations, potentially leading to code execution in the context of the application that manages the keys. This is the same underlying defect, in the same code path and remediated by the same fix, as CVE-2026-46590, which was reported independently and additionally covers the HashiCorp Vault and file-based sibling managers; both are incomplete-remediation follow-ons to CVE-2026-40048 (CAMEL-23200). This issue affects Apache Camel: from 4.18.0 before 4.18.3, from 4.19.0 before 4.21.0. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.21.0, which fixes the issue. If users are on the 4.18.x LTS releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.18.3. For deployments that cannot upgrade immediately, restrict write access to the AWS Secrets Manager secret that holds the camel-pqc key metadata so that only the application’s own identity holds secretsmanager:PutSecretValue on it (least-privilege IAM), and keep the PQC key material in a secret separate from any data that less-trusted principals can write.

The weakness was published by Venkatraman Kumar. The advisory is shared at camel.apache.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-43867 since 05/04/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 07/08/2026).

Upgrading to version 4.18.3 or 4.21.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Vendor

• Apache

Name

• Camel

Version

• 4.0
• 4.1
• 4.2
• 4.3
• 4.4
• 4.5
• 4.6
• 4.7
• 4.8
• 4.9
• 4.10
• 4.11
• 4.12
• 4.13
• 4.14
• 4.15
• 4.16
• 4.17
• 4.18
• 4.18.0
• 4.18.1
• 4.18.2
• 4.19
• 4.20

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.apache.org/

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