splunk-otel-javaagent: Unsafe deserialization in RMI instrumentation may lead to Remote Code Execution
Critical severity
GitHub Reviewed
Published
Mar 24, 2026
in
signalfx/splunk-otel-java
•
Updated Mar 26, 2026
Description
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database
Mar 26, 2026
Reviewed
Mar 26, 2026
Last updated
Mar 26, 2026
In versions prior to 2.26.1, the RMI instrumentation registered a custom endpoint that deserialized incoming data without applying serialization filters. An attacker with network access to a JMX or RMI port on an instrumented JVM could exploit this to potentially achieve remote code execution. All three of the following conditions must be true to exploit this vulnerability:
-javaagent)Impact
Arbitrary remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the instrumented JVM.
Recommendation
Upgrade to version 2.26.1 or later.
Workarounds
Set the following system property to disable the RMI integration:
References
Advisory in OpenTelemetry Instrumentation for Java
References