---
id: "CVE-2026-111108"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-111108"]
title: "Apache Kafka: protocol readers over-allocate memory from declared array length"
severity: "high"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["broker", "java", "kafka", "package", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["network-restricted-listeners", "patched-version"]
published_at: "2026-10-28T17:17:38+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-28T17:34:08+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-28T17:35:11+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-111108", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-28T17:34:08+00:00"}]
---

# Apache Kafka: protocol readers over-allocate memory from declared array length

Kafka's generated protocol readers pre-size arrays from a sender-declared element count that is checked only against buffer bytes, so a small request can force a heap allocation several times its size. An unauthenticated client on a listener without authentication can send a few concurrent large requests and crash the broker with an OutOfMemoryError.

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

## How to check

- Run `kafka-topics.sh --version` or check the Kafka version in the broker's lib directory to see whether it is below `4.2.2`, `4.3.2`, or `4.4.0`
- Review broker listeners for PLAINTEXT or other listeners without authentication, which are reachable by unauthenticated clients

## Fix

- Upgrade Apache Kafka to `4.2.2`, `4.3.2`, or `4.4.0`
- Until upgraded, lower `socket.request.max.bytes` and restrict network access to broker listeners (this reduces but does not remove exposure)

## Timeline

- 2026-10-28T17:34:08+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-111108

## From the sources

Apache Kafka's code-generated protocol readers pre-size an array's collection from the element count declared by the sender. That count is checked only against the bytes remaining in the request buffer, which assumes about one byte per element; because most elements need several bytes, a request can declare far more elements than the buffer holds and still pass. For a keyed array the reader then allocates an ImplicitLinkedHashCollection of capacity (2 * count +1), so a request of a few tens of megabytes can force a heap allocation several times larger before any element is read. The pattern is emitted into every generated reader, so it affects all Kafka API types with an array field. 


Impact:

Request parsing happens before any authorization check. On a listener that does not require authentication (for example PLAINTEXT), an unauthenticated attacker can send a few concurrent requests that each declare a very large=

array length and allocate many times their wire size in broker heap, crashing the broker with an OutOfMemoryError. The reporter demonstrated three concurrent ~90 MB ProduceRequest (v3) connections exhausting a 1 GB heap (~8x amplification). On listeners that require authentication, the attacker needs valid credentials but no specific ACL, since parsing precedes authorization..


Mitigation:

Upgrade to Apache Kafka 4.2.2, 4.3.2, or 4.4.0. Until then, lowering socket.request.max.bytes and restricting network access to broker listeners reduces, but does not remove, exposure.


Resolution:

From Apache Kafka 4.2.2, 4.3.2, and 4.4.0: generated readers cap the initial array pre-allocation at MessageUtil.MAX_PREALLOCATED_ARRAY_CAPACITY (1000) and grow it on demand, and reject a declared array length above MessageUtil.MAX_ARRAY_LENGTH (1,000,000).

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