Apache Spark Command Injection Vulnerability

Exploited · KEV 2023-03-07Metasploit moduleCVE-2022-33891CWE-78

Exploited since 2023-03-07. No WAF vendor names it yet. Our CRS test: blocked.

Edge rules

0/8

Our test

Blocked

CVSS

8.8

EPSS

93.2% Top 0.2%

Posts, 14d

Published

2022-07-18

The Apache Spark UI offers the possibility to enable ACLs via the configuration option spark.acls.enable. With an authentication filter, this checks whether a user has access permissions to view or modify the application. If ACLs are enabled, a code path in HttpSecurityFilter can allow someone to perform impersonation by providing an arbitrary user name. A malicious user might then be able to reach a permission check function that will ultimately build a Unix shell command based on their input, and execute it. This will result in arbitrary shell command execution as the user Spark is currently running as. This affects Apache Spark versions 3.0.3 and earlier, versions 3.1.1 to 3.1.2, and versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.1.

Edge coverage

Claimed by vendors

CloudflareBefore feed historyOlder than its feedEnterprise: blocked · Free: passed AWSNo public claimNot namedWe measured: blocked Microsoft AzureNo public claimNot named Google CloudBefore feed historyOlder than its feedWe measured: blocked FastlyBefore feed historyOlder than its feed F5Before feed historyOlder than its feed AkamaiNo public sourceNo public changelog OWASP CRSBefore feed historyOlder than its feed

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Ask about CVE-2022-33891: who's covered, what to patch first, how vendors compare. I cite sources and won't help with attacks.

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Severity, decoded

CVSS 3.1

8.8High

High · 8.8 / 10

Exploitable over the network, with low privileges and no user interaction, leading to full loss of confidentiality, integrity and availability.

Over the internetAny user loginNo user actionWorks reliablyFull compromise

How the score is built8 metrics

Attack vectorAn attacker can reach it over the internet; no access to your network needed.
Network
Attack complexityNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Low
Privileges requiredThe attacker needs an ordinary user account.
Low
User interactionNo one has to click or open anything; the attack works on its own.
None
ScopeThe damage stays within the vulnerable component.
Unchanged
Confidentiality impactAn attacker can read all data the affected component holds, or the most sensitive parts of it.
High
Integrity impactAn attacker can change any data or files the affected component protects.
High
Availability impactAn attacker can take the component down completely or keep it from serving anyone.
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA's assessmentSSVC, from the CVE record

ExploitationActive

Attackers are exploiting this in the wild.

AutomatableNo

At least one step needs hands-on work, which slows mass attacks.

Technical impactTotal

A successful attack gives full control over the affected software or all of its data.

Public exploits

2 found

1 Metasploit0 Exploit-DB1 Scanner template0 GitHub PoCs

MetasploitApache Spark Unauthenticated Command Injection RCE2022-07-18 · exploit · rank Excellent · has check
NucleiCVE-2022-33891.yamldetection template, replayed in our lab

Links are to third-party code: never run it outside an isolated lab.

Timeline

2022-07-18
CVE published
CVE List
2022-07-18
Metasploit module published
Apache Spark Unauthenticated Command Injection RCE
2023-03-07
Added to CISA KEV
Confirmed exploitation in the wild
2026-11-02
Our test: OWASP Core Rule Set blocked it
paranoia level 1, anomaly threshold 5, default CRS settings
2026-11-02
Our test: OWASP Core Rule Set blocked it
paranoia level 2, anomaly threshold 5, default CRS settings