CVE-2026-49086: CWE-20 Improper Input Validation in Apache Software Foundation Apache Camel Dapr
Improper Input Validation, Unintended Proxy or Intermediary ('Confused Deputy') vulnerability in Apache Camel DAPR component. The camel-dapr Dapr Pub/Sub consumer (DaprPubSubConsumer) copied two fields from each inbound CloudEvent - its Pub/Sub component name and its topic - into the CamelDaprPubSubName and CamelDaprTopic Exchange headers. These two headers are producer-direction routing headers: when the route republishes through a Dapr producer, DaprConfigurationOptionsProxy reads them back and prefers them over the destination configured on the endpoint. As a result, in a route that consumes from one Dapr Pub/Sub topic and republishes to another (for example from('dapr-pubsub:p:t').to('dapr-pubsub:p:other')), an actor able to publish a message to the subscribed topic could set the CloudEvent's pub/sub-name and topic to values of their choosing and cause the re-published message to be delivered to an arbitrary Dapr Pub/Sub component and topic instead of the configured destination - redirecting or exfiltrating the message and bypassing the route's intended routing and any topic-level access controls in the underlying broker. Exploitation requires the ability to publish to the topic the route subscribes to; no other authentication or user interaction is needed. This issue affects Apache Camel: from 4.12.0 before 4.14.8, from 4.15.0 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 4.14.x LTS releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.14.8. If users are on the 4.18.x releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.18.3. For deployments that cannot upgrade immediately, remove the CamelDaprPubSubName and CamelDaprTopic headers from the Exchange between the Dapr consumer and any Dapr producer in the route (for example removeHeaders('CamelDaprPubSubName', 'CamelDaprTopic')), and restrict who can publish to the subscribed Dapr Pub/Sub topic so that only trusted producers can send to it.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The Apache Camel Dapr component's DaprPubSubConsumer copies the pub/sub component name and topic from inbound CloudEvents into producer-direction routing headers (CamelDaprPubSubName and CamelDaprTopic). When a route republishes messages, these headers override the configured destination, allowing an attacker who can publish to the subscribed topic to redirect messages to arbitrary destinations. This constitutes an unintended proxy or 'confused deputy' vulnerability due to improper input validation. The issue affects Apache Camel versions from 4.12.0 up to but not including 4.14.8, from 4.15.0 up to but not including 4.18.3, and from 4.19.0 up to but not including 4.21.0. The vendor recommends upgrading to 4.21.0 or the respective fixed LTS versions 4.14.8 or 4.18.3. For those unable to upgrade immediately, removing the problematic headers and restricting publish permissions to trusted producers mitigates the risk.
Potential Impact
An attacker with the ability to publish to the subscribed Dapr Pub/Sub topic can manipulate message routing headers to redirect or exfiltrate messages to arbitrary Dapr Pub/Sub components and topics. This bypasses the intended routing logic and any topic-level access controls enforced by the underlying broker. No additional authentication or user interaction is required beyond the ability to publish to the subscribed topic.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in Apache Camel versions 4.14.8, 4.18.3, and 4.21.0. Users should upgrade to one of these versions to remediate the vulnerability. If immediate upgrade is not possible, users should remove the CamelDaprPubSubName and CamelDaprTopic headers from the Exchange between the Dapr consumer and any Dapr producer in the route (e.g., using removeHeaders('CamelDaprPubSubName', 'CamelDaprTopic')). Additionally, restrict publishing permissions on the subscribed Dapr Pub/Sub topic to trusted producers only.
CVE-2026-49086: CWE-20 Improper Input Validation in Apache Software Foundation Apache Camel Dapr
Description
Improper Input Validation, Unintended Proxy or Intermediary ('Confused Deputy') vulnerability in Apache Camel DAPR component. The camel-dapr Dapr Pub/Sub consumer (DaprPubSubConsumer) copied two fields from each inbound CloudEvent - its Pub/Sub component name and its topic - into the CamelDaprPubSubName and CamelDaprTopic Exchange headers. These two headers are producer-direction routing headers: when the route republishes through a Dapr producer, DaprConfigurationOptionsProxy reads them back and prefers them over the destination configured on the endpoint. As a result, in a route that consumes from one Dapr Pub/Sub topic and republishes to another (for example from('dapr-pubsub:p:t').to('dapr-pubsub:p:other')), an actor able to publish a message to the subscribed topic could set the CloudEvent's pub/sub-name and topic to values of their choosing and cause the re-published message to be delivered to an arbitrary Dapr Pub/Sub component and topic instead of the configured destination - redirecting or exfiltrating the message and bypassing the route's intended routing and any topic-level access controls in the underlying broker. Exploitation requires the ability to publish to the topic the route subscribes to; no other authentication or user interaction is needed. This issue affects Apache Camel: from 4.12.0 before 4.14.8, from 4.15.0 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 4.14.x LTS releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.14.8. If users are on the 4.18.x releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.18.3. For deployments that cannot upgrade immediately, remove the CamelDaprPubSubName and CamelDaprTopic headers from the Exchange between the Dapr consumer and any Dapr producer in the route (for example removeHeaders('CamelDaprPubSubName', 'CamelDaprTopic')), and restrict who can publish to the subscribed Dapr Pub/Sub topic so that only trusted producers can send to it.
CVSS v3.1
Score 6.5medium
Affected software
pkg:maven/Apache Software Foundation/org.apache.camel:camel-daprRun on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The Apache Camel Dapr component's DaprPubSubConsumer copies the pub/sub component name and topic from inbound CloudEvents into producer-direction routing headers (CamelDaprPubSubName and CamelDaprTopic). When a route republishes messages, these headers override the configured destination, allowing an attacker who can publish to the subscribed topic to redirect messages to arbitrary destinations. This constitutes an unintended proxy or 'confused deputy' vulnerability due to improper input validation. The issue affects Apache Camel versions from 4.12.0 up to but not including 4.14.8, from 4.15.0 up to but not including 4.18.3, and from 4.19.0 up to but not including 4.21.0. The vendor recommends upgrading to 4.21.0 or the respective fixed LTS versions 4.14.8 or 4.18.3. For those unable to upgrade immediately, removing the problematic headers and restricting publish permissions to trusted producers mitigates the risk.
Potential Impact
An attacker with the ability to publish to the subscribed Dapr Pub/Sub topic can manipulate message routing headers to redirect or exfiltrate messages to arbitrary Dapr Pub/Sub components and topics. This bypasses the intended routing logic and any topic-level access controls enforced by the underlying broker. No additional authentication or user interaction is required beyond the ability to publish to the subscribed topic.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in Apache Camel versions 4.14.8, 4.18.3, and 4.21.0. Users should upgrade to one of these versions to remediate the vulnerability. If immediate upgrade is not possible, users should remove the CamelDaprPubSubName and CamelDaprTopic headers from the Exchange between the Dapr consumer and any Dapr producer in the route (e.g., using removeHeaders('CamelDaprPubSubName', 'CamelDaprTopic')). Additionally, restrict publishing permissions on the subscribed Dapr Pub/Sub topic to trusted producers only.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- apache
- Date Reserved
- 2026-05-27T11:04:35.426Z
- Cvss Version
- null
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a4b6cae27e9c7971925237f
Added to database: 07/06/2026, 08:51:58 UTC
Last enriched: 07/06/2026, 09:07:40 UTC
Last updated: 07/06/2026, 23:07:41 UTC
Views: 6
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