CVE-2026-40022: Apache Camel Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2026-40022 Overview

CVE-2026-40022 is an authentication bypass vulnerability affecting the Apache Camel embedded HTTP server and management server components (camel-platform-http-main). When authentication is enabled and a non-root context path (such as /api or /admin) is configured via camel.server.path or camel.management.path, the authentication handler fails to properly protect subpaths. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to access protected business routes and management endpoints without providing credentials.

The vulnerability stems from how the BasicAuthenticationConfigurer and JWTAuthenticationConfigurer classes derive authentication paths when camel.server.authenticationPath or camel.management.authenticationPath is not explicitly set. Combined with the Vert.x sub-router mounting model, the authentication handler only matches the exact configured context path, not its subpaths.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can bypass authentication controls to access protected endpoints, potentially exposing sensitive runtime metadata including user information, working directories, process IDs, and JVM/OS details via the /observe/info endpoint.

Affected Products

• Apache Camel versions 4.14.1 through 4.14.5
• Apache Camel versions 4.18.0 through 4.18.1
• Apache Camel deployments using camel-platform-http-main with non-root context paths

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-04-27 - CVE CVE-2026-40022 published to NVD
• 2026-04-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-40022

Vulnerability Analysis

This authentication bypass vulnerability (CWE-288) occurs due to a path matching inconsistency between the Vert.x sub-router mounting mechanism and the Apache Camel authentication handler registration. The root cause lies in how authentication paths are derived and applied within the embedded HTTP server architecture.

When an administrator configures a non-root context path (e.g., /api or /admin), the Vert.x sub-router is mounted at _path_* pattern, which correctly captures all requests to that path and its subpaths. However, the authentication handler registered inside the sub-router only matches the resolved path from properties.getPath(), which corresponds to the exact context path without wildcard coverage.

This mismatch creates a security gap where the authentication handler challenges requests to the exact context path (e.g., /api) but allows requests to subpaths (e.g., /api/_route_ or /admin/observe/info) to pass through unchallenged. The vulnerability enables unauthorized access to protected business logic routes and management endpoints.

Root Cause

The BasicAuthenticationConfigurer and JWTAuthenticationConfigurer classes improperly derive the authentication path from properties.getPath() when camel.server.authenticationPath or camel.management.authenticationPath is not explicitly configured. This implementation assumes that protecting the exact context path provides adequate security coverage, but fails to account for the Vert.x sub-router's hierarchical path matching behavior. The authentication handler should be registered to match all subpaths within the configured context, not just the exact path.

Attack Vector

An attacker with network access to a vulnerable Apache Camel deployment can exploit this vulnerability by sending HTTP requests directly to subpaths of the configured context path. For example, if authentication is configured for /admin, an attacker can bypass authentication by requesting /admin/observe/info or similar subpath endpoints.

The /observe/info management endpoint is particularly valuable to attackers as it discloses runtime metadata including:

• The user account running the Camel process
• Working directory and home directory paths
• Process ID (PID)
• JVM version and configuration details
• Operating system information

This information disclosure facilitates further reconnaissance and can inform subsequent attack strategies against the target system.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-40022

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected HTTP 200 responses to unauthenticated requests targeting /observe/info or similar management endpoints
• Access log entries showing successful requests to protected subpaths without corresponding authentication events
• Unusual reconnaissance patterns accessing multiple management endpoints in rapid succession
• Web server logs showing requests to subpaths of protected context paths from unknown or suspicious IP addresses

Detection Strategies

• Monitor HTTP access logs for successful responses (HTTP 200) to management endpoints like /observe/info, /admin/*, or /api/* from unauthenticated sessions
• Implement network intrusion detection rules to alert on access attempts to known sensitive Camel management endpoints
• Review application logs for authentication bypass patterns where subpath requests succeed without credential challenges
• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block unauthorized access attempts to management endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed access logging for all Camel embedded HTTP server endpoints to capture request paths and authentication status
• Configure security information and event management (SIEM) alerts for patterns indicative of authentication bypass attempts
• Implement regular security scanning of Camel deployments to identify exposed management endpoints
• Monitor for unusual information disclosure events that may indicate successful exploitation

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-40022

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Apache Camel to version 4.20.0 or later, which contains the definitive fix for this vulnerability
• For deployments on the 4.14.x LTS stream, upgrade to version 4.14.6 or later
• For deployments on the 4.18.x LTS stream, upgrade to version 4.18.2 or later
• If immediate patching is not possible, explicitly configure camel.server.authenticationPath and camel.management.authenticationPath to cover all subpaths

Patch Information

Apache has released patched versions addressing this authentication bypass vulnerability. Users should upgrade to the following versions based on their deployment:

The official security advisory is available at the Apache Camel CVE-2026-40022 Advisory. Additional technical discussion can be found on the Openwall OSS Security Mailing List.

Workarounds

• Explicitly configure camel.server.authenticationPath and camel.management.authenticationPath properties to ensure authentication covers all subpaths
• Implement network-level access controls (firewall rules, security groups) to restrict access to Camel management endpoints
• Deploy a reverse proxy or API gateway in front of Camel that enforces authentication for all protected paths and subpaths
• Disable the embedded management server (camel.management.enabled=false) if management functionality is not required

# Configuration example - Explicitly set authentication paths to cover subpaths
# Add these properties to your application.properties or equivalent configuration

camel.server.authenticationPath=/*
camel.management.authenticationPath=/*
camel.management.enabled=false  # Disable if management endpoints not needed