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CriticalVulnerabilityCVE-2026-118636updated 1 Nov 2026, 00:35 UTC

Apache MINA 3.0 codec can let attackers run code via untrusted Java objects

A networking library can be tricked into running an attacker's code when it reads data from an untrusted source. The flaw is in how it unpacks certain incoming messages, and there is no planned fix for this version line.

No fix yetOfficial, 3 sources
SeverityCriticalCVSS 9.8 of 10
Being exploited?UnclearNo reports either way yet
Fix available?Not yetUse the workaround below until a patch ships
How sure is this?Official, 3 sourcesBacked by an official source

How the attack works simplified

  1. 1Attacker crafts payloadSerialized Java objects with malicious gadget chain
  2. 2Payload sent to serviceReaches any exposed MINA endpoint
  3. 3Decoder reads frameObjectInputStream.readObject() runs without class filter
  4. 4Code runs on serverGadget chain executes attacker commands
  5. ResultAttacker controls the server

What happened

JavaNativeMessageDecoder in the Apache MINA 3.0 codec module calls ObjectInputStream.readObject() on incoming frame bytes with no class filter, enabling unsafe deserialization (CWE-502) and gadget-chain remote code execution.

Why it is dangerous: An attacker who can send crafted bytes to an affected application may execute code on the server with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Any service exposing this decoder to untrusted peers is at risk.

Are you affected?

You are affected if you use Apache MINA 3.0.0 through 3.0.0-M2 with JavaNativeMessageDecoder receiving data from untrusted peers.

Apache MINA 3.0.0 through 3.0.0-M2 (JavaNativeMessageDecoder in the 3.0 codec module)

What to do

  1. Stop using JavaNativeMessageDecoder for input from untrusted peers
  2. Migrate to the latest Apache MINA 2.2.X branch, as the project recommends
  3. Audit any code that deserializes network frames with ObjectInputStream

Timeline

  1. 31 Oct 2026, 08:14 UTC
    Publicly disclosed
  2. 31 Oct 2026, 08:14 UTC
    Reported by oss-security · oss-security
  3. 31 Oct 2026, 08:15 UTC
    Picked up by Zero Radar
  4. 31 Oct 2026, 21:19 UTC
    NVD reported on it · NVD
  5. 1 Nov 2026, 00:35 UTC
    GitHub Advisory reported on it · GitHub Advisory

Sources 3 reports, oldest first

Official vendor, government CERT or advisory database

Security researchers research teams and mailing lists

Technical details

ID
CVE-2026-118636 · GHSA-gcvh-r85p-53mh
CVSS
9.8 / 10
EPSS
0.6% chance of exploitation within 30 days
Disclosed
31 Oct 2026, 08:14 UTC
On Zero Radar
31 Oct 2026, 08:15 UTC (1 min after disclosure)
Last change
1 Nov 2026, 00:35 UTC

The plain-language parts and the attack diagram were written by an AI model (claude-haiku-5-5) from the sources above. Facts like versions, exploitation and dates come from the sources themselves. How Zero Radar works

Apache MINA 3.0 codec can let attackers run code via untrusted Java objects · Zero Radar