Summary
Apache Pulsar: Improper Authorization For Topic-Level Policy Management
The vulnerability allows authenticated users with only produce or consume permissions to modify topic-level policies, such as retention, TTL, and offloading settings. These management operations should be restricted to users with the tenant admin role or super user role.
This issue affects Apache Pulsar versions from 2.7.1 to 2.10.5, from 2.11.0 to 2.11.3, from 3.0.0 to 3.0.2, from 3.1.0 to 3.1.2, and 3.2.0.
2.10 Apache Pulsar users should upgrade to at least 2.10.6.
2.11 Apache Pulsar users should upgrade to at least 2.11.4.
3.0 Apache Pulsar users should upgrade to at least 3.0.3.
3.1 Apache Pulsar users should upgrade to at least 3.1.3.
3.2 Apache Pulsar users should upgrade to at least 3.2.1.
Users operating versions prior to those listed above should upgrade to the aforementioned patched versions or newer versions.
Impact
The application does not correctly enforce access controls, allowing a principal to access resources or operations beyond their granted permissions. Typical impact: unauthorized data access or execution of privileged operations.
CVE-2024-28098 has a CVSS score of 5.4 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, low 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 (3.2.1, 3.1.3, 3.0.3, 2.11.4, 2.10.6); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
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.
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org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker to 3.2.1 or later; org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker to 3.1.3 or later; org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker to 3.0.3 or later; org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker to 2.11.4 or later; org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker to 2.10.6 or later
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2024-28098? CVE-2024-28098 is a medium-severity incorrect authorization vulnerability in org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker (maven), affecting versions >= 3.2.0, < 3.2.1. It is fixed in 3.2.1, 3.1.3, 3.0.3, 2.11.4, 2.10.6. The application does not correctly enforce access controls, allowing a principal to access resources or operations beyond their granted permissions.
- How severe is CVE-2024-28098? CVE-2024-28098 has a CVSS score of 5.4 (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 org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker are affected by CVE-2024-28098? org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker (maven) versions >= 3.2.0, < 3.2.1 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2024-28098? Yes. CVE-2024-28098 is fixed in 3.2.1, 3.1.3, 3.0.3, 2.11.4, 2.10.6. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2024-28098 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2024-28098 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-2024-28098 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-2024-28098?
- Upgrade
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-brokerto 3.2.1 or later - Upgrade
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-brokerto 3.1.3 or later - Upgrade
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-brokerto 3.0.3 or later - Upgrade
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-brokerto 2.11.4 or later - Upgrade
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-brokerto 2.10.6 or later
- Upgrade