Critical severity · published Mar 27, 2026
CVE-2026-33701
OpenTelemetry: Unsafe Deserialization in RMI Instrumentation may Lead to Remote Code Execution
9.8
CVSS
0.9%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation provides OpenTelemetry auto-instrumentation and instrumentation libraries for Java. In versions prior to 2.26.1, the RMI instrumentation registered a custom endpoint that deserialized incoming data without applying serialization filters. On JDK version 16 and earlier, 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: First, OpenTelemetry Java instrumentation is attached as a Java agent (`-javaagent`) on Java 16 or earlier. Second, JMX/RMI port has been explicitly configured via `-Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.port` and is network-reachable. Third, gadget-chain-compatible library is present on the classpath. This results in arbitrary remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the instrumented JVM. For JDK >= 17, no action is required, but upgrading is strongly encouraged. For JDK < 17, upgrade to version 2.26.1 or later. As a workaround, set the system property `-Dotel.instrumentation.rmi.enabled=false` to disable the RMI integration.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.9% · higher than 61% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
OP
opentelemetry-java-instrumentation · open-telemetry
< 2.26.1 · source: vendor
OI
Opentelemetry Instrumentation For Java · Linuxfoundation
before 2.26.1 · source: NVD
RH
Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform Expansion Pack · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
Affected product
OP
opentelemetry-java-instrumentation
open-telemetry
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33701
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-33701
Patch
https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/commit/9cf4fbaaa9e79226142b2ed42a6f6b4ac0be2197
Release Notes
https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/releases/tag/v2.26.1
Mitigation
https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/security/advisories/GHSA-xw7x-h9fj-p2c7
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-33701
bugzilla.redhat.com
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2452071
security.access.redhat.com
https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-33701.json
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