CVE-2026-43867 Apache Camel-PQC: The AWS Secrets Manager key-lifecycle manager deserializes persisted key metadata with java.io.ObjectInputStream and no ObjectInputFilter

What is CVE-2026-43867?

CVE-2026-43867 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Apache Camel, published on 6 Jul 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in Apache Camel PQC Component.

The camel-pqc component persists post-quantum key metadata (KeyMetadata) through pluggable KeyLifecycleManager implementations. AwsSecretsManagerKeyLifecycleManager.deserializeMetadata() reads that metadata back from the configured AWS Secrets Manager secret by Base64-decoding the stored value and deserializing it with a raw java.io.ObjectInputStream.readObject() and no ObjectInputFilter or class allow-list; the cast to KeyMetadata happens only after readObject() returns, so any readObject() side effects in a crafted object run before the type check. A principal who can write to the AWS Secrets Manager secret that holds this metadata (requiring secretsmanager:PutSecretValue on that secret) could store a crafted serialized object that is deserialized during normal key-lifecycle operations, potentially leading to code execution in the context of the application that manages the keys. This is the same underlying defect, in the same code path and remediated by the same fix, as CVE-2026-46590, which was reported independently and additionally covers the HashiCorp Vault and file-based sibling managers; both are incomplete-remediation follow-ons to CVE-2026-40048 (CAMEL-23200). This issue affects Apache Camel: from 4.18.0 before 4.18.3, from 4.19.0 before 4.21.0.

Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.21.0, which fixes the issue. If users are on the 4.18.x LTS releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.18.3. For deployments that cannot upgrade immediately, restrict write access to the AWS Secrets Manager secret that holds the camel-pqc key metadata so that only the application’s own identity holds secretsmanager:PutSecretValue on it (least-privilege IAM), and keep the PQC key material in a secret separate from any data that less-trusted principals can write.

Weakness: CWE-502

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-43867?

4 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.camel:camel-pqc. It affects 1 product.

Products include Apache Camel.

How do I fix CVE-2026-43867?

Upgrade org.apache.camel:camel-pqc to a fixed version for your release line: 4.18.3 or 4.21.0.

Upgrade, and only deserialise data from trusted sources or with an allow-list of types. More about Unsafe deserialization.

Is CVE-2026-43867 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-43867 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.

Other vulnerabilities in Apache Camel

• CVE-2026-33453 Apache camel-coap allows header injection that can lead to remote code execution Critical 10.0
• CVE-2026-40453 Apache Camel has an incomplete fix for CVE-2025-27636 Critical 9.9
• CVE-2026-80351 Apache Camel K: Camel K Tenant repositories reach Maven execution inside operator pod Critical 9.8
• CVE-2026-80352 Apache Camel K: Camel K Master trait serviceAccountName YAML injection lets CR author apply arbitrary objects Critical 9.8
• CVE-2026-71300 Apache Camel: Camel-Atmosphere-Websocket: WebSocket dispatch header injection Critical 9.8

All Apache Camel vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as GHSA-7cmx-qjh8-7v3v.