CVE-2026-24014: Apache IoTDB Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2026-24014 Overview

CVE-2026-24014 is a path traversal vulnerability in Apache IoTDB DataNode's internal Remote Procedure Call (RPC) interface for creating Trigger instances. The interface uses the uploaded Trigger JAR file name to construct a file path without adequate validation. Attackers who reach an exposed DataNode RPC port can inject path traversal sequences into the JAR name to write files outside the intended Trigger installation directory. Successful exploitation yields arbitrary file write with the privileges of the IoTDB process. The flaw affects Apache IoTDB versions from 1.3.3 up to but not including 2.0.8 and is tracked under CWE-284 Improper Access Control.

Critical Impact
An unauthenticated network attacker reaching the DataNode RPC port can write arbitrary files with IoTDB process privileges, enabling code execution and full host compromise.

Affected Products

Apache IoTDB 1.3.3 through versions prior to 2.0.8
Apache IoTDB DataNode component (internal RPC interface)
Deployments exposing the DataNode internal RPC port to untrusted networks

Discovery Timeline

2026-07-06 - CVE-2026-24014 published to NVD
2026-07-07 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-24014

Vulnerability Analysis

Apache IoTDB is a time-series database designed for Internet of Things (IoT) workloads. The DataNode component exposes an internal RPC interface used by cluster nodes to distribute Trigger definitions, which are Java Archive (JAR) files loaded into the database to execute user-defined logic on data events.

When a client submits a request to create a Trigger, the DataNode receives the JAR contents and a file name. The server concatenates the supplied name with the Trigger installation directory to produce the destination path. Because the name is not normalized or validated, an attacker can embed sequences such as ../ to escape the target directory and write to arbitrary filesystem locations reachable by the IoTDB service account.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input validation on the JAR file name parameter passed to the Trigger creation RPC handler. The handler trusts the caller because the interface is designed for intra-cluster communication. When the port is reachable from untrusted networks, that implicit trust becomes exploitable. This maps to CWE-284 Improper Access Control, compounded by classic path traversal behavior in the file-write routine.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to the DataNode internal RPC port and does not require authentication or user interaction. An attacker crafts a Trigger creation RPC message containing a JAR payload and a name containing path traversal sequences. The DataNode writes the JAR bytes to the attacker-controlled path. By writing to directories such as scheduled task locations, service configuration paths, or IoTDB's own extension directories, the attacker can achieve arbitrary code execution as the IoTDB process user.

A technical description of the RPC flow and the fix is available in the Apache Mailing List Thread and the OpenWall OSS-Security Update.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24014

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected files appearing outside the configured Trigger installation directory, particularly JAR files with names containing .., /, or \ characters.
New or modified files under IoTDB binary, configuration, or extension paths that were not deployed through standard change management.
Inbound TCP connections to the DataNode internal RPC port originating from hosts outside the IoTDB cluster network.
IoTDB process spawning unexpected child processes shortly after Trigger creation RPC activity.

Detection Strategies

Inspect DataNode logs for CreateTriggerInstance or equivalent Trigger creation RPC events and correlate the supplied JAR name against a strict allowlist pattern.
Deploy file integrity monitoring on the IoTDB installation root, Trigger directory, and system directories writable by the service account.
Use network monitoring to flag connections to the DataNode internal RPC port from source addresses outside the cluster subnet.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose audit logging for all Trigger lifecycle operations and forward the logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation.
Alert on IoTDB process file writes to paths outside the expected data and Trigger directories.
Track the running IoTDB version across the fleet to identify unpatched instances still on 1.3.3 through 2.0.7.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24014

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Apache IoTDB to version 2.0.8 or later on every DataNode in the cluster.
Restrict the DataNode internal RPC port to cluster-internal network segments using host firewalls or network access control lists.
Audit recent Trigger creation activity and inspect the filesystem for files written outside the Trigger directory.
Rotate any credentials or secrets stored on hosts running affected IoTDB versions if compromise is suspected.

Patch Information

The Apache IoTDB project released version 2.0.8, which adds validation on the Trigger JAR file name to reject path traversal sequences and enforces that the resolved path remains within the Trigger installation directory. Full details are provided in the Apache Mailing List Thread. Operators running any release from 1.3.3 through 2.0.7 must upgrade.

Workarounds

Block external access to the DataNode internal RPC port at perimeter and host firewalls until patching is complete.
Place IoTDB cluster nodes on a dedicated management network isolated from application and user traffic.
Run the IoTDB service under a dedicated low-privilege account with write access limited to required data and Trigger directories.

bash

# Example: restrict DataNode internal RPC port to cluster subnet with iptables
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 10730 -s 10.0.10.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 10730 -j DROP

# Verify installed IoTDB version is 2.0.8 or later
./sbin/start-cli.sh -e "show version"