# CVE-2021-26118: Flaw in ActiveMQ Artemis OpenWire support

> Attackers can bypass policy-based access controls in Apache ActiveMQ Artemis OpenWire protocol by exploiting advisory message creation flaws.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 27 Jan 2021
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-q7fr-vqhq-v5xr, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-26118

## What is CVE-2021-26118?

CVE-2021-26118 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Netapp Oncommand Workflow Automation, published on 27 Jan 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

While investigating ARTEMIS-2964 it was found that the creation of advisory messages in the OpenWire protocol head of Apache ActiveMQ Artemis 2.15.0 bypassed policy based access control for the entire session. Production of advisory messages was not subject to access control in error.

Weakness: CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-26118?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.activemq:artemis-openwire-protocol. It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.activemq:artemis-openwire-protocol` | Maven | All versions | 2.16.0 |
| `org.apache.activemq:artemis-openwire-protocol` | Maven | All versions | 2.16.0 |

Products: Apache Artemis, Netapp Oncommand Workflow Automation.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-26118?

Upgrade org.apache.activemq:artemis-openwire-protocol to 2.16.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2021-26118 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-26118 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Netapp Oncommand Workflow Automation

- [CVE-2026-57967](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-57967/): Apache Artemis, Apache ActiveMQ Artemis: Missing authentication on CORE protocol session reattachment (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-27446](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27446/): Apache Artemis, Apache ActiveMQ Artemis: Auth bypass for Core downstream federation (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2026-49364](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-49364/): Information disclosure in Apache ActiveMQ Artemis (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2026-67593](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-67593/): Missing authorization in Apache ActiveMQ Artemis (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2023-50780](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-50780/): Apache ActiveMQ Artemis: Authenticated users could perform RCE via Jolokia MBeans (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-26118 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-26118 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Netapp Oncommand Workflow Automation, published on 27 Jan 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-26118 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.activemq:artemis-openwire-protocol (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 2.16.0
- org.apache.activemq:artemis-openwire-protocol (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 2.16.0

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26118/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26118/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-26118
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-26118
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-26118

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26118/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.