CVE-2026-33701
Critical · CVSS 9.8OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation — Unsafe Java deserialization RCE via RMI instrumentation endpoint
- CVSS
- 9.8
- nvd
- EPSS
- 0.93%
- 57th pct
- KEV
- No
- Class
- oss containerizable
- CWE-502, CWE-502
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.
Search profile — drives PoC discovery
Ranked PoCs (1) — best first
Heuristic ranking — not yet expert-vetted. Scored on structure + provenance, not execution.
- ★ 0pl4tyz/CVE-2026-33701-Unsafe-Deserialization-in-OpenTelemetry-Java-Agent-RMI-Instrumentation needs reviewrecent activitygh_search
Recall-favoring discovery; ranking by the Stage-4 scorer (Adam's rubric). Scanner/aggregator repos are hidden.
Affected packages
| Maven | io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent | 0 → 2.26.1 |
References
- https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/commit/9cf4fbaaa9e79226142b2ed42a6f6b4ac0be2197
- https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/releases/tag/v2.26.1
- https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/security/advisories/GHSA-xw7x-h9fj-p2c7
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-33701
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2452071
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-33701.json
Status: enriched · ingested 2026-06-30T06:00:22.000Z · profiled 2026-07-01T06:30:14.000Z