CVE-2026-54712: CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption in open-telemetry opentelemetry-java-instrumentation
OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation provides OpenTelemetry auto-instrumentation and instrumentation libraries for Java. In versions prior to 2.27.0, the RMI context propagation payload reader limits the number of context entries but does not limit the aggregate size of the strings read from the stream. An attacker who can reach an RMI endpoint on an instrumented JVM can send an oversized context propagation payload. This can cause excessive memory allocation while the JVM reads the payload, potentially leading to denial of service. The issue affects only deployments where RMI instrumentation is enabled and an RMI endpoint is network-reachable. This issue has been fixed in version 2.27.0.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation prior to version 2.27.0 contains a vulnerability (CWE-400) in the RMI context propagation payload reader. While the number of context entries is limited, the aggregate size of strings read from the stream is not constrained. This allows an attacker with network access to an RMI endpoint on an instrumented JVM to send an oversized context propagation payload, leading to excessive memory allocation during payload processing. This uncontrolled resource consumption can cause a denial of service condition. The vulnerability affects only deployments with RMI instrumentation enabled and network-reachable RMI endpoints. The issue is resolved in version 2.27.0.
Potential Impact
An attacker who can reach an RMI endpoint on a JVM instrumented with OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation (with RMI instrumentation enabled) can send an oversized context propagation payload. This causes excessive memory allocation while the JVM reads the payload, potentially resulting in denial of service due to resource exhaustion. There is no impact on confidentiality or integrity, only availability is affected.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation version 2.27.0. Users should upgrade to version 2.27.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability. If upgrading is not immediately possible, restricting network access to RMI endpoints and disabling RMI instrumentation can mitigate exposure. Patch status is not explicitly confirmed in the advisory, but the issue is stated as fixed in version 2.27.0.
CVE-2026-54712: CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption in open-telemetry opentelemetry-java-instrumentation
Description
OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation provides OpenTelemetry auto-instrumentation and instrumentation libraries for Java. In versions prior to 2.27.0, the RMI context propagation payload reader limits the number of context entries but does not limit the aggregate size of the strings read from the stream. An attacker who can reach an RMI endpoint on an instrumented JVM can send an oversized context propagation payload. This can cause excessive memory allocation while the JVM reads the payload, potentially leading to denial of service. The issue affects only deployments where RMI instrumentation is enabled and an RMI endpoint is network-reachable. This issue has been fixed in version 2.27.0.
CVSS v3.1
Score 5.3medium
Affected software
pkg:maven/io.opentelemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentationRun on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation prior to version 2.27.0 contains a vulnerability (CWE-400) in the RMI context propagation payload reader. While the number of context entries is limited, the aggregate size of strings read from the stream is not constrained. This allows an attacker with network access to an RMI endpoint on an instrumented JVM to send an oversized context propagation payload, leading to excessive memory allocation during payload processing. This uncontrolled resource consumption can cause a denial of service condition. The vulnerability affects only deployments with RMI instrumentation enabled and network-reachable RMI endpoints. The issue is resolved in version 2.27.0.
Potential Impact
An attacker who can reach an RMI endpoint on a JVM instrumented with OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation (with RMI instrumentation enabled) can send an oversized context propagation payload. This causes excessive memory allocation while the JVM reads the payload, potentially resulting in denial of service due to resource exhaustion. There is no impact on confidentiality or integrity, only availability is affected.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation version 2.27.0. Users should upgrade to version 2.27.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability. If upgrading is not immediately possible, restricting network access to RMI endpoints and disabling RMI instrumentation can mitigate exposure. Patch status is not explicitly confirmed in the advisory, but the issue is stated as fixed in version 2.27.0.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-06-15T22:58:06.563Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a458bf827e9c79719326447
Added to database: 07/01/2026, 21:51:52 UTC
Last enriched: 07/01/2026, 22:06:21 UTC
Last updated: 07/01/2026, 22:51:45 UTC
Views: 3
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