CVE-2026-5562: Provectus Kafka-UI RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2026-5562 Overview

A code injection vulnerability was identified in Provectus Kafka-UI up to version 0.7.2. This vulnerability impacts the validateAccess function of the file /api/smartfilters/testexecutions within the Endpoint component. The manipulation of input parameters leads to code injection, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The attack can be initiated remotely without authentication, making it accessible to any network-based attacker. The exploit is publicly available, increasing the risk of active exploitation. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can inject and execute arbitrary code through the /api/smartfilters/testexecutions endpoint, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or lateral movement within the network.

Affected Products

• Provectus Kafka-UI version 0.7.2 and earlier
• Deployments exposing the /api/smartfilters/testexecutions endpoint to untrusted networks
• Kafka management environments utilizing Kafka-UI without additional access controls

Discovery Timeline

• April 5, 2026 - CVE-2026-5562 published to NVD
• April 7, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-5562

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component), commonly known as injection. The vulnerability resides in the validateAccess function within the endpoint handler for /api/smartfilters/testexecutions. When processing user-supplied input, the function fails to properly sanitize or validate the data before incorporating it into executable code paths.

The network-based attack vector allows remote attackers to reach the vulnerable endpoint without requiring any prior authentication or user interaction. The exploitation complexity is low, meaning standard attack techniques can successfully trigger the vulnerability without specialized conditions or preparation.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2026-5562 lies in insufficient input validation within the validateAccess function. User-controlled data is passed directly into code execution contexts without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious code segments. The endpoint processes smart filter test executions without implementing appropriate boundary checks or input encoding, creating a direct path for code injection attacks.

Attack Vector

The attack is conducted remotely over the network by sending specially crafted requests to the /api/smartfilters/testexecutions endpoint. An attacker does not require authentication to exploit this vulnerability. By manipulating parameters passed to the validateAccess function, malicious code can be injected and executed within the context of the Kafka-UI application.

The injection payload is processed by the downstream component, which interprets the attacker-controlled input as legitimate code rather than data. This enables arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Kafka-UI application process.

Detailed technical information and exploit methodology are documented in the VulDB vulnerability entry. Additional context about the vulnerability submission is available through the VulDB submission record.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-5562

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed HTTP requests targeting /api/smartfilters/testexecutions endpoint
• Unexpected process spawning or command execution originating from the Kafka-UI application
• Anomalous network connections initiated by the Kafka-UI server to external destinations
• Log entries indicating injection attempts with special characters or code patterns in request parameters

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web application logs for suspicious requests to the /api/smartfilters/testexecutions endpoint containing injection patterns
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block code injection payloads in API requests
• Deploy runtime application self-protection (RASP) to identify code injection attempts during execution
• Use SentinelOne Singularity XDR to detect anomalous behavior patterns from the Kafka-UI application process

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on the Kafka-UI application to capture all requests to the affected endpoint
• Set up alerts for any HTTP 500 errors or application crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Monitor system call activity from the Kafka-UI process for signs of code execution
• Review access logs for requests from unexpected source IPs targeting management endpoints

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-5562

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the /api/smartfilters/testexecutions endpoint using firewall rules or network segmentation
• Implement authentication requirements for all Kafka-UI API endpoints if not already enforced
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to filter code injection patterns
• Consider disabling or removing the affected smart filters functionality until a patch is available

Patch Information

As of the last modification date, the vendor has not responded to disclosure attempts. No official patch is currently available from Provectus for this vulnerability. Organizations should monitor the Kafka-UI GitHub repository for security updates and apply patches immediately when released.

Given the vendor's lack of response, consider evaluating alternative Kafka management tools or implementing compensating controls until a fix is provided.

Workarounds

• Place Kafka-UI behind a reverse proxy with strict input validation and request filtering
• Limit access to the Kafka-UI web interface to trusted internal networks only
• Implement IP allowlisting to restrict access to administrative endpoints
• Deploy network segmentation to isolate Kafka management infrastructure from untrusted networks

# Example: Restrict access to Kafka-UI using iptables
# Allow access only from trusted management network
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8080 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8080 -j DROP

# Example: nginx reverse proxy with basic request filtering
# Add to nginx location block for /api/smartfilters/testexecutions
# location /api/smartfilters/testexecutions {
#     deny all;  # Block access until patched
# }