---
title: "CVE-2026-46495: OpenDJ Pre-Auth RCE via Java Deserialization in JMX RMI"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-46495/
description: "CVE-2026-46495 (org.openidentityplatform.opendj:opendj-server-legacy (Maven)): OpenDJ is an LDAPv3 compliant directory service. Prior to 5.1.1, the JMX RMI…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-09-15
date_modified: 2026-09-15
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-46495"
kev: false
cvss: 9.2
epss: 0.01131
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-46495: OpenDJ Pre-Auth RCE via Java Deserialization in JMX RMI

**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 1.1% , percentile 66: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.1% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 66% 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.openidentityplatform.opendj:opendj-server-legacy (Maven) <= 5.1.0, fixed in 5.1.1 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

OpenDJ is an LDAPv3 compliant directory service. Prior to 5.1.1, the JMX RMI connector in opendj-server-legacy/src/main/java/org/opends/server/protocols/jmx/RmiConnector.java processes attacker-controlled credential objects before authentication without a restrictive jmx.remote.rmi.server.credentials.filter.pattern, and RmiAuthenticator.authenticate in opendj-server-legacy/src/main/java/org/opends/server/protocols/jmx/RmiAuthenticator.java accepts an unconstrained Object array rather than a two-element String[]. When the JMX Connection Handler is enabled and its TCP listener is reachable, an unauthenticated remote attacker can submit a crafted serialized Java object and achieve code execution in the OpenDJ server process. The handler is disabled by default, and successful exploitation depends on the runtime classpath and Java version; remote code execution was demonstrated against OpenDJ 4.4.15 on JDK 11 with Jackson 2.12.6.1. This issue is fixed in 5.1.1.

## Affected packages

- Maven `org.openidentityplatform.opendj:opendj-server-legacy` <= 5.1.0 → fixed: 5.1.1

## Affected products (CVE record)

- OpenIdentityPlatform OpenDJ: < 5.1.1
- org.openidentityplatform.opendj opendj-server-legacy: < 5.1.1

## Severity

- GitHub_M CVSS 4.0: 9.2 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`
- GitHub CVSS 4.0: 9.2 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/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 no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 1.13% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 66.

## Sources

- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-43x2-g84q-fmqx](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-43x2-g84q-fmqx)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-46495](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-46495)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-46495](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-46495)
- [github.com](https://github.com/OpenIdentityPlatform/OpenDJ/security/advisories/GHSA-43x2-g84q-fmqx)
- [github.com](https://github.com/OpenIdentityPlatform/OpenDJ/pull/651)
- [github.com](https://github.com/OpenIdentityPlatform/OpenDJ/commit/7e3a75903159153c877daeb2952a552701e38044)
- [github.com](https://github.com/OpenIdentityPlatform/OpenDJ/commit/d4a95c2e37c375756f9829c7ec43a4785b99e2e2)
- [github.com](https://github.com/OpenIdentityPlatform/OpenDJ/releases/tag/5.1.1)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-46495/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt