# Apache ActiveMQ OpenWire RCE exploited for HelloKitty ransomware (CVE-2023-46604) · pwn.watch

> A deserialization flaw in ActiveMQ's Java OpenWire protocol marshaller let anyone who could reach a broker run shell commands on it. Within days of the fix, attackers were deploying HelloKitty ransomware through it.

Page: https://pwn.watch/i/apache-activemq-openwire-rce-cve-2023-46604 · generated 2026-10-22T19:29:07.289Z

## Status
- Severity: critical · status: closed · patch: patched
- Product: Apache ActiveMQ (Java OpenWire brokers and clients)
- Started: 2023-10-27 · closed: 2023-11-02
- CVEs: CVE-2023-46604
- Affected: See vendor advisory
- Fixed in: 5.15.16; 5.16.7; 5.17.6; 5.18.3

## Follow this incident
- RSS (one item per update): https://pwn.watch/i/apache-activemq-openwire-rce-cve-2023-46604/feed.xml
- JSON Feed: https://pwn.watch/i/apache-activemq-openwire-rce-cve-2023-46604/feed.json
- Full data (timeline, sources, posts, agentBrief): https://pwn.watch/i/apache-activemq-openwire-rce-cve-2023-46604.json
- This file: https://pwn.watch/i/apache-activemq-openwire-rce-cve-2023-46604/llms.txt

## Updates (newest first)
- 2023-11-02: CISA adds CVE-2023-46604 to the KEV catalog
- 2023-11-01: Rapid7 reports exploitation in two customer environments, attempting to deploy HelloKitty ransomware (https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2023/11/01/etr-suspected-exploitation-of-apache-activemq-cve-2023-46604/)
- 2023-10-27: Apache publishes the CVE-2023-46604 announcement; fixed releases already out (https://activemq.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2023-46604-announcement.txt)

## Fix brief
# Security brief: Apache ActiveMQ OpenWire RCE exploited for HelloKitty ransomware (CVE-2023-46604)

Source: https://pwn.watch/i/apache-activemq-openwire-rce-cve-2023-46604 · status: closed (closed Nov 2, 2023) · severity: critical · updated Nov 2, 2023

## Patch status
**PATCHED: fixed releases exist. Upgrade to a fixed version.**

## What it is
A deserialization flaw in ActiveMQ's Java OpenWire protocol marshaller let anyone who could reach a broker run shell commands on it. Within days of the fix, attackers were deploying HelloKitty ransomware through it.

Severity detail: CVSS 9.8 (NVD), actively exploited (CISA KEV), known ransomware use

- Product: Apache ActiveMQ (Java OpenWire brokers and clients)
- CVE / advisory ids: CVE-2023-46604

## Affected versions
- See vendor advisory

## Check whether you're affected
No generic command applies (the product is a hosted service, appliance or desktop app). Check the installed version in its admin UI / About screen and compare with the versions above.

## Fix
Upgrade to one of these fixed versions (or later on the same branch):
- 5.15.16
- 5.16.7
- 5.17.6
- 5.18.3

After upgrading, re-run the checks above and redeploy/restart the affected services.

## Latest updates
- Nov 2, 2023: CISA adds CVE-2023-46604 to the KEV catalog
- Nov 1, 2023: Rapid7 reports exploitation in two customer environments, attempting to deploy HelloKitty ransomware
- Oct 27, 2023: Apache publishes the CVE-2023-46604 announcement; fixed releases already out

## Advisories
- [CVE-2023-46604 announcement](https://activemq.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2023-46604-announcement.txt) (Apache ActiveMQ)
- [NVD: CVE-2023-46604](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-46604) (NVD)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) (CISA)

## Write-ups & news
- [Suspected Exploitation of Apache ActiveMQ CVE-2023-46604](https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2023/11/01/etr-suspected-exploitation-of-apache-activemq-cve-2023-46604/)

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Machine-readable: https://pwn.watch/i/apache-activemq-openwire-rce-cve-2023-46604.json · all incidents: https://pwn.watch/incidents.json. Verify against the vendor advisory before changing production systems.