---
id: "CVE-2023-33246"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2023-33246"]
title: "apache rocketmq: For RocketMQ versions 5.1.0 and below, under certain conditions, there is a risk of remote command execution"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.8
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "apache rocketmq", "fixed": ["4.9.6"], "affected": "< 4.9.6", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "apache rocketmq", "fixed": ["5.1.1"], "affected": ">= 5.0.0, < 5.1.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Apache RocketMQ", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["apache-rocketmq", "exploited", "infrastructure", "internet-exposed", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["unknown"]
published_at: "2023-05-24T15:15:09+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-24T00:09:51+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-33246", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-33246", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"}]
---

# apache rocketmq: For RocketMQ versions 5.1.0 and below, under certain conditions, there is a risk of remote command execution

Apache RocketMQ NameServer, Broker and Controller components lack permission checks and are reachable from the internet. An unauthenticated attacker can run commands as the RocketMQ system user through the update-configuration function, or by forging RocketMQ protocol messages.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:apache rocketmq affected < 4.9.6 fixed 4.9.6
- vendor:apache rocketmq affected >= 5.0.0, < 5.1.1 fixed 5.1.1
- vendor:Apache RocketMQ affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the mitigations in the Apache RocketMQ vendor advisory or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-33246
- 2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-33246

## From the sources

For RocketMQ versions 5.1.0 and below, under certain conditions, there is a risk of remote command execution. 

Several components of RocketMQ, including NameServer, Broker, and Controller, are leaked on the extranet and lack permission verification, an attacker can exploit this vulnerability by using the update configuration function to execute commands as the system users that RocketMQ is running as. Additionally, an attacker can achieve the same effect by forging the RocketMQ protocol content. 

To prevent these attacks, users are recommended to upgrade to version 5.1.1 or above for using RocketMQ 5.x or 4.9.6 or above for using RocketMQ 4.x .

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_