CVE-2026-24013 Overview
CVE-2026-24013 is an authentication bypass vulnerability in Apache IoTDB, an open-source time-series database used in Internet of Things (IoT) and industrial monitoring deployments. Certain Thrift Remote Procedure Call (RPC) query handlers fail to strictly validate the sessionId parameter. An attacker can forge a sessionId in a crafted request and receive valid query results without calling openSession to authenticate. This enables unauthorized reading of time-series data stored in the database. The flaw is tracked as [CWE-290] Authentication Bypass by Spoofing and affects Apache IoTDB from version 1.3.3 up to (but not including) 2.0.8.
Critical Impact
Network-based attackers with no privileges or user interaction can bypass authentication and read time-series data from vulnerable Apache IoTDB deployments.
Affected Products
- Apache IoTDB version 1.3.3
- Apache IoTDB versions after 1.3.3 and before 2.0.8
- Fixed in Apache IoTDB 2.0.8
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-07-06 - CVE-2026-24013 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-07-07 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-24013
Vulnerability Analysis
Apache IoTDB exposes several client operations through a Thrift RPC interface. Clients normally authenticate by invoking openSession, which returns a valid sessionId bound to the authenticated user. Subsequent RPC calls carry that sessionId to prove identity. The vulnerable handlers accept the sessionId value at face value and skip the check that ties the identifier to an established session. An attacker who can reach the RPC port can therefore submit query requests carrying an arbitrary sessionId and receive query results. The impact is loss of confidentiality of time-series data and, per the CVSS vector, integrity impact on the affected component.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing server-side validation of the sessionId parameter in specific Thrift RPC query handlers. The handlers trust a client-supplied identifier as evidence of authentication instead of verifying that the identifier corresponds to a session created through openSession. This is a classic Authentication Bypass by Spoofing weakness [CWE-290].
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network reachability to the Apache IoTDB Thrift RPC endpoint. The attacker crafts a Thrift request targeting a vulnerable query handler and sets the sessionId field to a spoofed value. Because the handler does not enforce that the session exists and is authenticated, the server processes the query and returns results. No credentials, prior access, or user interaction are required. Deployments that expose IoTDB RPC ports to untrusted networks are directly reachable and at highest risk. For technical details, refer to the Apache Mailing List Thread and the Openwall OSS-Security Discussion.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24013
Indicators of Compromise
- Thrift RPC query calls that succeed without a preceding openSession call from the same client connection.
- sessionId values in server logs that do not correspond to any session issued by the authentication subsystem.
- Unexpected read queries against time-series databases originating from unknown source IP addresses.
Detection Strategies
- Enable verbose audit logging on Apache IoTDB and correlate every query RPC against a prior successful openSession for the same session identifier.
- Inspect network traffic to the IoTDB Thrift RPC port for query operations from clients that never completed an authentication handshake.
- Alert on sessionId values that are reused across disparate source addresses or that do not match server-side session state.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward Apache IoTDB access and audit logs to a centralized SIEM for long-term retention and correlation.
- Baseline normal client behavior (session creation rate, query volume per session) and alert on deviations such as query bursts without matching session creation.
- Monitor perimeter firewalls and cloud security groups for unauthorized exposure of IoTDB RPC ports to the public internet.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24013
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade all Apache IoTDB instances running versions 1.3.3 through 2.0.7 to version 2.0.8 without delay.
- Restrict network access to the IoTDB Thrift RPC port using firewalls, security groups, or a private network segment.
- Review historical query logs for unauthorized reads that may have occurred prior to patching.
Patch Information
Apache has released Apache IoTDB 2.0.8, which enforces strict validation of the sessionId parameter in the affected Thrift RPC query handlers. Administrators should upgrade to 2.0.8 or later. Refer to the Apache Mailing List Thread for the official vendor advisory.
Workarounds
- If immediate patching is not feasible, place IoTDB behind a network segment accessible only to authenticated application tiers.
- Enforce mutual TLS or an authenticating proxy in front of the Thrift RPC endpoint to reject unauthenticated traffic before it reaches IoTDB.
- Disable or block external exposure of the RPC port until the upgrade to 2.0.8 is complete.
# Example: restrict IoTDB Thrift RPC port (default 6667) to trusted subnet
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 6667 -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 6667 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
