CVE-2026-54226: Apache Kvrocks Security Vulnerability

CVE-2026-54226 Overview

CVE-2026-54226 is a vulnerability affecting Apache Kvrocks, a distributed key-value NoSQL database compatible with the Redis protocol. The flaw impacts versions 2.6.0 through 2.15.0, and Apache has released 2.16.0 to remediate the issue. The vulnerability requires network access, low privileges, and user interaction to exploit, and it carries an impact on subsequent system confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The issue is tracked under the Apache Software Foundation security process. According to EPSS data from 2026-06-25, the probability of exploitation is 0.322% with a percentile of 23.86, indicating low observed exploitation activity at publication time.

Critical Impact
Authenticated users with low privileges can leverage this vulnerability to affect downstream systems that depend on the Kvrocks instance, with consequences extending beyond the vulnerable component itself.

Affected Products

Apache Kvrocks 2.6.0 through 2.15.0
Fixed in Apache Kvrocks 2.16.0
Deployments using Kvrocks as a Redis-compatible backend

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-25 - CVE-2026-54226 published to NVD
2026-06-25 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-54226

Vulnerability Analysis

Apache Kvrocks is a Redis-protocol-compatible NoSQL database that persists data using RocksDB. The advisory published by the Apache Software Foundation identifies a defect introduced in version 2.6.0 and present through 2.15.0. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network by an authenticated user holding limited privileges, and the attack succeeds only with user interaction in the exploitation chain.

The CVSS v4.0 vector signals that the immediate impact on the vulnerable component is limited, but the subsequent system impact is high across confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This pattern is consistent with vulnerabilities that allow a low-privileged client to influence data, commands, or state consumed by downstream applications relying on the Kvrocks instance.

Root Cause

The upstream Apache advisory does not publicly enumerate the precise faulty function or commit at the time of NVD publication. Refer to the Apache Mailing List Thread and the OpenWall OSS Security Post for current technical analysis from the maintainers.

Attack Vector

An attacker must reach the Kvrocks service over the network and authenticate with at least low-level credentials. The exploitation flow also depends on a passive action by another user or process interacting with the data path. Successful exploitation does not require elevated privileges on the host but does require valid client access to the Kvrocks endpoint.

No verified public exploitation code is available. The vulnerability is described in prose by the Apache project; see the linked references for protocol-level reproduction details once published.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-54226

Indicators of Compromise

Kvrocks server processes running versions 2.6.0 through 2.15.0 exposed on TCP port 6666 or a custom Redis-compatible port.
Unexpected command sequences from low-privileged Redis clients targeting Kvrocks instances.
Anomalous reads or writes from Kvrocks-backed applications following client authentication events.

Detection Strategies

Inventory all Kvrocks deployments and compare reported binary versions against the affected range 2.6.0–2.15.0.
Enable verbose command logging on Kvrocks and review authenticated session activity for atypical command patterns.
Correlate Kvrocks client authentication events with downstream application errors or data anomalies.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor Kvrocks server logs for repeated AUTH attempts followed by unusual command invocations.
Track network flows to and from Kvrocks instances to identify clients outside the expected application allowlist.
Alert on Kvrocks process restarts, configuration changes, and version downgrades.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-54226

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade all Apache Kvrocks instances to version 2.16.0 or later, as recommended by the Apache Software Foundation.
Restrict network access to Kvrocks endpoints using firewall rules so only trusted application hosts can connect.
Rotate Kvrocks requirepass values and any tokens issued to low-privileged clients after patching.

Patch Information

Apache has released Kvrocks 2.16.0 to fix this issue. Users running any release from 2.6.0 through 2.15.0 should plan an immediate upgrade. Refer to the Apache Mailing List Thread for release coordination details and the OpenWall OSS Security Post for vendor commentary.

Workarounds

Limit client authentication to dedicated, least-privilege accounts and disable unused user roles defined via Kvrocks ACLs.
Place Kvrocks behind a network segmentation boundary, blocking direct access from user-facing networks.
Validate and sanitize data consumed by downstream applications to reduce the impact of tampered records during the upgrade window.

bash

# Verify the running Kvrocks version and upgrade path
kvrocks --version

# Example: pull and run the fixed release container
docker pull apache/kvrocks:2.16.0
docker run -d --name kvrocks-2.16.0 \
  -p 6666:6666 \
  -v /etc/kvrocks/kvrocks.conf:/var/lib/kvrocks/kvrocks.conf \
  apache/kvrocks:2.16.0