Summary
Apache Camel's camel-coap component is vulnerable to header injection because it maps CoAP request URI query parameters directly into Camel message headers without applying a HeaderFilterStrategy. An unauthenticated attacker can send a crafted CoAP request to inject arbitrary Camel internal headers into the exchange.
When a vulnerable route forwards that exchange to a header-sensitive downstream producer, the attacker may be able to control producer behavior. For example, in routes using camel-exec, injected headers can override the configured executable and arguments, which can result in arbitrary command execution with the privileges of the Camel process. Command output may be returned to the attacker in the CoAP response.
This issue affects org.apache.camel:camel-coap from 4.14.0 through 4.14.5 and from 4.18.0 before 4.18.1. It is fixed in 4.14.6, 4.18.1, and 4.19.0.
Impact
CVE-2026-33453 has a CVSS score of 10.0 (Critical). 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 (4.14.6, 4.18.1); 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.
Remediation advice
org.apache.camel:camel-coap to 4.14.6 or later; org.apache.camel:camel-coap to 4.18.1 or later
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-33453? CVE-2026-33453 is a critical-severity security vulnerability in org.apache.camel:camel-coap (maven), affecting versions >= 4.14.0, <= 4.14.5. It is fixed in 4.14.6, 4.18.1.
- How severe is CVE-2026-33453? CVE-2026-33453 has a CVSS score of 10.0 (Critical). 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.camel:camel-coap are affected by CVE-2026-33453? org.apache.camel:camel-coap (maven) versions >= 4.14.0, <= 4.14.5 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-33453? Yes. CVE-2026-33453 is fixed in 4.14.6, 4.18.1. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-33453 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-33453 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-2026-33453 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-2026-33453?
- Upgrade
org.apache.camel:camel-coapto 4.14.6 or later - Upgrade
org.apache.camel:camel-coapto 4.18.1 or later
- Upgrade