Summary
Apache Camel-Neo4j: JSON property names from the CamelNeo4jMatchProperties header are interpolated into the Cypher WHERE clause without validation, allowing Cypher injection (incomplete remediation of CVE-2025-66169)
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Data Query Logic vulnerability in Apache Camel Neo4j component.
The camel-neo4j producer builds the Cypher WHERE clause for its match/retrieve and delete operations from the CamelNeo4jMatchProperties map. CVE-2025-66169 addressed Cypher injection through the property values by binding them as query parameters ($paramN), but the property names (the JSON keys of that map) were still concatenated into the query string verbatim in Neo4jProducer.retrieveNodes() and deleteNode(). A property name containing Cypher syntax therefore alters the structure of the executed query. Where a route maps untrusted input into the CamelNeo4jMatchProperties map - for example by passing a request body as the match map, or from a consumer that does not filter inbound Camel* headers - an attacker who controls the JSON key names can inject arbitrary Cypher and read, modify or delete any node or relationship in the Neo4j database. The CamelNeo4jMatchProperties header is itself Camel-prefixed and is filtered by the HTTP header-filter strategy, so a plain HTTP client cannot set it directly; the issue is reachable through routes that deliberately or inadvertently carry untrusted data into that header.
This issue affects Apache Camel: from 4.10.0 before 4.14.8, from 4.15.0 before 4.18.3, from 4.19.0 before 4.21.0.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.21.0, which fixes the issue. If users are on the 4.14.x LTS releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.14.8. If users are on the 4.18.x releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.18.3. For deployments that cannot upgrade immediately, do not populate the CamelNeo4jMatchProperties map from untrusted input: validate or allow-list the property names (for example against ^[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]$) before the Neo4j producer, and ensure that any consumer feeding such a route filters inbound Camel / camel* headers so the match header cannot be supplied by an external sender.
Impact
CVE-2026-46591 has a CVSS score of 8.2 (High). 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 (4.14.8, 4.18.3, 4.21.0); 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.camel:camel-neo4j to 4.14.8 or later; org.apache.camel:camel-neo4j to 4.18.3 or later; org.apache.camel:camel-neo4j to 4.21.0 or later
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-46591? CVE-2026-46591 is a high-severity security vulnerability in org.apache.camel:camel-neo4j (maven), affecting versions >= 4.10.0, < 4.14.8. It is fixed in 4.14.8, 4.18.3, 4.21.0.
- How severe is CVE-2026-46591? CVE-2026-46591 has a CVSS score of 8.2 (High). 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-neo4j are affected by CVE-2026-46591? org.apache.camel:camel-neo4j (maven) versions >= 4.10.0, < 4.14.8 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-46591? Yes. CVE-2026-46591 is fixed in 4.14.8, 4.18.3, 4.21.0. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-46591 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-46591 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-2026-46591 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-2026-46591?
- Upgrade
org.apache.camel:camel-neo4jto 4.14.8 or later - Upgrade
org.apache.camel:camel-neo4jto 4.18.3 or later - Upgrade
org.apache.camel:camel-neo4jto 4.21.0 or later
- Upgrade