Apache SeaTunnel Vulnerability Enables Unauthorized Deserialization Attacks

A newly disclosed security flaw (CVE-2025-32896) in Apache SeaTunnel enables unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code and access sensitive files via exposed API endpoints.

This critical vulnerability affects versions 2.3.1 through 2.3.10 of the popular data integration platform, requiring immediate remediation to prevent system compromise.

Technical Exploitation Details

The vulnerability resides in the unsecured REST API v1 endpoint /hazelcast/rest/maps/submit-job, which allows unauthorized job submissions.

Attackers exploit this by injecting malicious parameters into MySQL connection URLs, triggering two attack vectors:

1. Arbitrary File Read: Enables access to server-side files like configuration data and credentials.
2. Java Deserialization Attacks: Leads to remote code execution (RCE) by deserializing untrusted data.

Vulnerability Aspect	Details
CVE ID	CVE-2025-32896
Affected Versions	SeaTunnel ≤ 2.3.10
Attack Vector	Unauthenticated API access
CVSS v3 Severity	6.5 (Medium)
Primary Risk	Full server compromise

Mitigation and Remediation

The Apache team addressed this vulnerability in version 2.3.11, released May 27, 2025.

Critical steps for mitigation include:

• Immediate upgrade to SeaTunnel 2.3.11 or later
• Disable REST API v1 and migrate to authenticated API v2 endpoints
• Enable HTTPS two-way authentication for all cluster nodes
• Monitor server logs for unauthorized access to /submit-job endpoints

Failure to patch exposes systems to unauthenticated RCE attacks, particularly dangerous in data-intensive environments where SeaTunnel typically operates.

The fixes in 2.3.11 include enhanced access controls and secure API endpoints, with no known workarounds besides upgrading.

This incident underscores the critical importance of securing API endpoints and maintaining timely software updates in data integration platforms.

Organizations using affected versions should prioritize patching to prevent potential data breaches and system takeovers.

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