High severity · published Apr 27, 2026
CVE-2026-40048
Apache Camel PQC: Unsafe Deserialization from FileBasedKeyLifecycleManager
7.8
CVSS
0.3%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
The Camel-PQC FileBasedKeyLifecycleManager class deserializes the contents of `<keyId>.key` files in the configured key directory using java.io.ObjectInputStream without applying any ObjectInputFilter or class-loading restrictions. The cast to `java.security.KeyPair` is evaluated only after `readObject()` has already returned, so any `readObject()` side effects in the deserialized object run before the type check. An attacker who can write to the key directory used by a Camel application — for example through a path traversal into the directory, misconfigured filesystem permissions on the volume where keys are stored, a compromised key provisioning pipeline, or a symlink attack — can place a crafted serialized Java object that, when deserialized during normal key lifecycle operations, results in arbitrary code execution in the context of the application.
This issue affects Apache Camel: from 4.19.0 before 4.20.0, from 4.18.0 before 4.18.2.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.20.0, which fixes the issue by replacing java.io.ObjectInputStream-based key and metadata storage with standard PKCS#8 (private key) / X.509 SubjectPublicKeyInfo (public key) Base64 JSON encoding. For users on the 4.18.x LTS releases stream, upgrade to 4.18.2.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.3% · higher than 26% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
AC
Apache Camel PQC · Apache Software Foundation
4.19.0 before 4.20.0; 4.18.0 before 4.18.2 · source: vendor
CA
Camel · Apache
4.18.0 before 4.18.2; 4.19.0 · source: NVD
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40048
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-40048
Vendor Advisory
https://camel.apache.org/security/CVE-2026-40048.html
Mailing List
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/04/26/6
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-40048
bugzilla.redhat.com
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2463176
security.access.redhat.com
https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-40048.json
