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Critical · 10.0 Known exploited · Ransomware Scanner template Public exploit CVE-2023-46604 BIT-activemq-2023-46604EUVD-2023-2719GHSA-crg9-44h2-xw35

Apache ActiveMQ, Apache ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module: Unbounded deserialization causes ActiveMQ to be vulnerable to a remote code execution (RCE) attack

Published Oct 27, 2023 · Updated Nov 3, 2025 · Assigned by apache

Vendor: Apache Software Foundation Product: Apache ActiveMQ Product: Apache ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module Package: activemq Package: activemq Package: org.apache.activemq:activemq-client Package: org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy Ecosystem: Debian Ecosystem: Maven Ecosystem: Ubuntu

Description

The Java OpenWire protocol marshaller is vulnerable to Remote Code
Execution. This vulnerability may allow a remote attacker with network
access to either a Java-based OpenWire broker or client to run arbitrary
shell commands by manipulating serialized class types in the OpenWire
protocol to cause either the client or the broker (respectively) to
instantiate any class on the classpath.

Users are recommended to upgrade
both brokers and clients to version 5.15.16, 5.16.7, 5.17.6, or 5.18.3
which fixes this issue.

Affected products

VendorProductAffectedFixed
Apache Software Foundation Apache ActiveMQ 5.18.0 – < 5.18.3, 5.17.0 – < 5.17.6, 5.16.0 – < 5.16.7, < 5.15.16 5.18.3
Apache Software Foundation Apache ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module 5.18.0 – < 5.18.3, 5.17.0 – < 5.17.6, 5.16.0 – < 5.16.7, 5.8.0 – < 5.15.16 5.18.3

Fixed in Linux distributions

Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.

Debian

Security tracker ↗
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian 13 activemq 5.17.6+dfsg-1 —
Debian 12 activemq 5.17.2+dfsg-2+deb12u1 DSA-5798-1
Debian 11 activemq 5.16.1-1+deb11u1 DLA-3936-1
Debian 10 activemq 5.15.16-0+deb10u1 DLA-3657-1

Ubuntu

Security tracker ↗
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS activemq 5.16.1-1ubuntu0.1 USN-7268-1
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS activemq 5.16.1-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 USN-6910-1
Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS activemq 5.15.11-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 USN-6910-1
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS activemq 5.15.8-2~18.04.1~esm1 USN-6910-1
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS activemq 5.13.2+dfsg-2ubuntu0.1~esm1 USN-6910-1

Public exploits

Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.

Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.

Metasploit 1 module

GitHub 44 repositories · most starred shown

Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.

Automated scanner template

A ready-made Nuclei template detects this vulnerability automatically. Vulnerabilities with public scanner templates are typically probed across the internet soon after the template appears — exposed systems should be patched first.

Source: projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates (MIT) — updated daily. Only links are listed.

Affected packages

EcosystemPackageAffectedFixedRecord
Maven org.apache.activemq:activemq-client < 5.15.16 5.15.16 GHSA-crg9-44h2-xw35
Maven org.apache.activemq:activemq-client >= 5.16.0, < 5.16.7 5.16.7 GHSA-crg9-44h2-xw35
Maven org.apache.activemq:activemq-client >= 5.17.0, < 5.17.6 5.17.6 GHSA-crg9-44h2-xw35
Maven org.apache.activemq:activemq-client >= 5.18.0, < 5.18.3 5.18.3 GHSA-crg9-44h2-xw35
Maven org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy >= 5.8.0, < 5.15.16 5.15.16 GHSA-crg9-44h2-xw35
Maven org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy >= 5.16.0, < 5.16.7 5.16.7 GHSA-crg9-44h2-xw35
Maven org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy >= 5.17.0, < 5.17.6 5.17.6 GHSA-crg9-44h2-xw35
Maven org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy >= 5.18.0, < 5.18.3 5.18.3 GHSA-crg9-44h2-xw35

Advisories 21

References