# Apache RocketMQ: Command Execution (CVE-2023-33246) · pwn.watch

> Several components of Apache RocketMQ, including NameServer, Broker, and Controller, are exposed to 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 or achieve the same effect by forging the RocketMQ protocol content. Added to CISA KEV on 2023-09-06.

Page: https://pwn.watch/i/apache-rocketmq-cve-2023-33246 · generated 2026-10-23T03:01:01.167Z

## Status
- Severity: critical · status: closed · patch: patched
- Product: Apache RocketMQ
- Started: 2023-09-06 · closed: 2023-09-06
- CVEs: CVE-2023-33246
- Affected: See vendor advisory / CISA notes (versions not always listed in KEV feed)
- Fixed in: See vendor advisory linked in sources

## Follow this incident
- RSS (one item per update): https://pwn.watch/i/apache-rocketmq-cve-2023-33246/feed.xml
- JSON Feed: https://pwn.watch/i/apache-rocketmq-cve-2023-33246/feed.json
- Full data (timeline, sources, posts, agentBrief): https://pwn.watch/i/apache-rocketmq-cve-2023-33246.json
- This file: https://pwn.watch/i/apache-rocketmq-cve-2023-33246/llms.txt

## Updates (newest first)
- 2023-09-06: CISA added CVE-2023-33246 to the KEV catalog (due 2023-09-27).

## Fix brief
# Security brief: Apache RocketMQ: Command Execution (CVE-2023-33246)

Source: https://pwn.watch/i/apache-rocketmq-cve-2023-33246 · status: closed (closed Sep 6, 2023) · severity: critical · updated Sep 6, 2023

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

## What it is
Several components of Apache RocketMQ, including NameServer, Broker, and Controller, are exposed to 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 or achieve the same effect by forging the RocketMQ protocol content. Added to CISA KEV on 2023-09-06.

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

- Product: Apache RocketMQ
- CVE / advisory ids: CVE-2023-33246

## Affected versions
- See vendor advisory / CISA notes (versions not always listed in KEV feed)

## 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):
- See vendor advisory linked in sources

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

## Latest updates
- Sep 6, 2023: CISA added CVE-2023-33246 to the KEV catalog (due 2023-09-27).

## Advisories
- [Vendor advisory: Apache RocketMQ](https://lists.apache.org/thread/1s8j2c8kogthtpv3060yddk03zq0pxyp) (Apache)
- [NVD: CVE-2023-33246](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-33246) (NVD)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) (CISA)

## Caveats
Derived from CISA KEV JSON feed catalogVersion 2026.10.21. Exact affected/fixed version strings are not always in the KEV record — verify against the vendor advisory URL. startedAt uses dateAdded (exploitation may have begun earlier).

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Machine-readable: https://pwn.watch/i/apache-rocketmq-cve-2023-33246.json · all incidents: https://pwn.watch/incidents.json. Verify against the vendor advisory before changing production systems.