GHSA-xw7x-h9fj-p2c7
OpenTelemetry: Unsafe Deserialization in RMI Instrumentation may Lead to Remote Code Execution
Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maven | io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent | < 2.26.1 | 2.26.1 |
Details
As written in the advisory (Markdown source, shown as plain text).
In versions prior to 2.26.1, the RMI instrumentation registered a custom endpoint that deserialized incoming data without applying serialization filters. 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:
1. OpenTelemetry Java instrumentation is attached as a Java agent (`-javaagent`)
2. An RMI endpoint is network-reachable (e.g. JMX remote port, an RMI registry, or any application-exported RMI service)
3. A gadget-chain-compatible library is present on the classpath
### Impact
Arbitrary remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the instrumented JVM.
### Recommendation
Upgrade to version 2.26.1 or later.
### Workarounds
Set the following system property to disable the RMI integration:
```
-Dotel.instrumentation.rmi.enabled=false
```
### Credits
This vulnerability was responsibly disclosed in coordination with Datadog.
References
External links from the advisory. They lead to third-party sites.
- https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/security/advisories/GHSA-xw7x-h9fj-p2c7
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33701
- https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/commit/9cf4fbaaa9e79226142b2ed42a6f6b4ac0be2197
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-33701
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2452071
- https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation
- https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/releases/tag/v2.26.1
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-33701.json