---
title: "CVE-2023-51518: Apache James server: Privilege escalation via JMX pre-authentication deserialization"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-51518/
description: "CVE-2023-51518 (org.apache.james:james-server (Maven)): Apache James prior to version 3.7.5 and 3.8.0 exposes a JMX endpoint on localhost subject to…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2024-02-27
date_modified: 2026-03-15
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2023-51518"
kev: false
cvss: 9.3
epss: 0.01189
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2023-51518: Apache James server: Privilege escalation via JMX pre-authentication deserialization

**Signal:** Critical and remotely reachable. No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 1.2% , percentile 68: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.2% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 68% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes org.apache.james:james-server (Maven) <= 3.7.4, fixed in 3.7.5 ; org.apache.james:james-server (Maven) >= 3.8.0, < 3.8.1, fixed in 3.8.1 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

Apache James prior to version 3.7.5 and 3.8.0 exposes a JMX endpoint on localhost subject to pre-authentication deserialisation of untrusted data. Given a deserialisation gadjet, this could be leveraged as part of an exploit chain that could result in privilege escalation. Note that by default JMX endpoint is only bound locally. We recommend users to: - Upgrade to a non-vulnerable Apache James version - Run Apache James isolated from other processes (docker - dedicated virtual machine) - If possible turn off JMX

## Affected packages

- Maven `org.apache.james:james-server` <= 3.7.4 → fixed: 3.7.5
- Maven `org.apache.james:james-server` >= 3.8.0, < 3.8.1 → fixed: 3.8.1

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Apache Software Foundation Apache James server: <= 3.7.4, 3.8 <= 3.8.0

## Severity

- CISA-ADP CVSS 3.1: 9.8 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`
- GitHub CVSS 4.0: 9.3 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none , automatable yes , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 1.19% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 68.

## Sources

- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread/wbdm61ch6l0kzjn6nnfmyqlng82qz0or)
- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-px7w-c9gw-7gj3](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-px7w-c9gw-7gj3)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2023-51518](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-51518)
- [NVD entry CVE-2023-51518](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-51518)

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Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-51518/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt