CVE-2026-84501
Published:September 16, 2026
Updated:September 22, 2026
An unauthenticated attacker can inject arbitrary fake log lines into Apache ZooKeeper's operational log by sending a crafted add_auth("ensemble", ...) request containing newline characters (\n). When the ensemble name doesn't match, EnsembleAuthenticationProvider.handleAuthentication() logs the raw, unsanitized name via LOG.warn(). Because SLF4J's {} placeholder preserves embedded newlines, the attacker can forge complete log entries — with arbitrary timestamps, log levels, class names, and messages — that are visually indistinguishable from genuine ZooKeeper log output.
This issue affects Apache ZooKeeper: from 3.9.0 through 3.9.5, from 3.8.0 through 3.8.6.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.8.7 or 3.9.6, which fixes the issue.
Affected Packages
https://github.com/apache/zookeeper.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=release-3.8.0-0 <release-3.8.7Fix Suggestion:
Update to version release-3.8.7https://github.com/apache/zookeeper.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=release-3.9.0-0 <release-3.9.6Fix Suggestion:
Update to version release-3.9.6org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper (JAVA):
Affected version(s) >=3.8.0 <3.8.7Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 3.8.7org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper (JAVA):
Affected version(s) >=3.9.0 <3.9.6Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 3.9.6Related Resources (5)
Do you need more information?
Contact UsCVSS v4
Base Score:
6.9
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Attack Requirements
NONE
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Vulnerable System Confidentiality
NONE
Vulnerable System Integrity
LOW
Vulnerable System Availability
NONE
Subsequent System Confidentiality
NONE
Subsequent System Integrity
NONE
Subsequent System Availability
NONE
CVSS v3
Base Score:
5.3
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
LOW
Availability
NONE
Weakness Type (CWE)
Improper Output Neutralization for Logs
EPSS
Base Score:
0.78