What is CVE-2023-32081?

CVE-2023-32081 is a medium-severity improper authentication vulnerability in io.vertx:vertx-stomp (maven), affecting versions >= 3.1.0, < 3.9.16. It is fixed in 3.9.16, 4.4.2. The application does not adequately verify the identity of a user, device, or process before granting access.

How severe is CVE-2023-32081?

CVE-2023-32081 has a CVSS score of 6.5 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.

Which versions of io.vertx:vertx-stomp are affected by CVE-2023-32081?

io.vertx:vertx-stomp (maven) versions >= 3.1.0, < 3.9.16 is affected.

Is there a fix for CVE-2023-32081?

Yes. CVE-2023-32081 is fixed in 3.9.16, 4.4.2. Upgrade to this version or later.

Is CVE-2023-32081 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2023-32081 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk.

What actually determines whether CVE-2023-32081 is exploitable, and how bad it is?

Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.

How do I fix CVE-2023-32081?

Upgrade: io.vertx:vertx-stomp to 3.9.16 or later, io.vertx:vertx-stomp to 4.4.2 or later.

CVE-2023-32081 in io.vertx:vertx-stomp

Q: How severe is CVE-2023-32081?

CVE-2023-32081 has a CVSS score of 6.5 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.

Q: Which versions of io.vertx:vertx-stomp are affected by CVE-2023-32081?

io.vertx:vertx-stomp (maven) versions >= 3.1.0, < 3.9.16 is affected.

Q: Is there a fix for CVE-2023-32081?

Yes. CVE-2023-32081 is fixed in 3.9.16, 4.4.2. Upgrade to this version or later.

Q: Is CVE-2023-32081 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2023-32081 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk.

Q: What actually determines whether CVE-2023-32081 is exploitable, and how bad it is?

Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.

Q: How do I fix CVE-2023-32081?

Upgrade: io.vertx:vertx-stomp to 3.9.16 or later, io.vertx:vertx-stomp to 4.4.2 or later.

Summary

Vert.x STOMP server process client frames that would not send initially a connect frame

Workarounds

No trivial workaround.

Impact

A Vert.x STOMP server processes client STOMP frames without checking that the client send an initial CONNECT frame replied with a successful CONNECTED frame. The client can subscribe to a destination or publish message without prior authentication. Any Vert.x STOMP server configured with an authentication handler is impacted.

The application does not adequately verify the identity of a user, device, or process before granting access. Typical impact: unauthorized access to functions or data reserved for authenticated parties.

CVE-2023-32081 has a CVSS score of 6.5 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (3.9.16, 4.4.2); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Affected versions

io.vertx:vertx-stomp (>= 3.1.0, < 3.9.16) io.vertx:vertx-stomp (>= 4.0.0, < 4.4.2)

Security releases

io.vertx:vertx-stomp → 3.9.16 (maven) io.vertx:vertx-stomp → 4.4.2 (maven)

Kodem intelligence

Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.

Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.

Already deployed Kodem?

See it in your environment New to Kodem? Get a demo →

Remediation advice

The issue is patched in Vert.x 4.4.2 and Vert.x 3.9.16

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-32081? CVE-2023-32081 is a medium-severity improper authentication vulnerability in io.vertx:vertx-stomp (maven), affecting versions >= 3.1.0, < 3.9.16. It is fixed in 3.9.16, 4.4.2. The application does not adequately verify the identity of a user, device, or process before granting access.
How severe is CVE-2023-32081? CVE-2023-32081 has a CVSS score of 6.5 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
Which versions of io.vertx:vertx-stomp are affected by CVE-2023-32081? io.vertx:vertx-stomp (maven) versions >= 3.1.0, < 3.9.16 is affected.
Is there a fix for CVE-2023-32081? Yes. CVE-2023-32081 is fixed in 3.9.16, 4.4.2. Upgrade to this version or later.
Is CVE-2023-32081 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-32081 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
What actually determines whether CVE-2023-32081 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
How do I fix CVE-2023-32081?
- Upgrade io.vertx:vertx-stomp to 3.9.16 or later
- Upgrade io.vertx:vertx-stomp to 4.4.2 or later