Blog
February 11, 2026
Apache Kafka is undisputably the most powerful platform, open source or otherwise, for handling high-throughput, low-latency data streams. Use cases for Kafka stream processing range from tracking user activity on e-commerce sites to aggregating logs for cybersecurity analysis, and 80% of the Fortune 100 rely upon it.
Because it’s such a critical infrastructure component, Kafka vulnerabilities must be taken seriously if organizations want to avoid catastrophic, headline-making breaches to their streaming data pipelines. Unpatched clusters can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, bypass authentication, and steal sensitive data. Securing complex, distributed Kafka environments means addressing CVEs before malicious parties can take advantage.
Keep reading to learn about some of the most recently disclosed Kafka vulnerabilities and get guidance on remediation strategies.
How Secure Is Apache Kafka?
Kafka security depends on proper configuration of encryption (TLS), authentication (SASL/mTLS), and authorization (ACLs). When these layers are misconfigured or when underlying code flaws are discovered, the system becomes vulnerable.
The security of a Kafka deployment often depends on:
- Network Isolation: Ensuring Kafka brokers are not exposed to the public internet without strict firewalls.
- Version Currency: Running older, unsupported versions increases the risk of known exploits.
- Dependency Management: Kafka relies on various libraries (like Jetty or Connect clients) that may have their own vulnerabilities.
While the core Kafka project maintains high security standards, the complexity of its ecosystem means vulnerabilities can emerge in unexpected places, such as the Kafka Connect API or client libraries.
Back to topWhat Kafka CVEs Are Most Common?
Kafka vulnerabilities generally fall into three categories:
- Remote Code Execution (RCE): The most critical type. These flaws allow attackers to execute malicious code on the server, potentially granting full control over the Kafka broker.
- Authentication Bypass: These vulnerabilities allow unauthorized users to access data or administrative functions, bypassing the SASL or SSL controls intended to keep them out.
- Denial of Service (DoS): These exploits aim to crash the Kafka brokers or exhaust resources (CPU/Memory), disrupting real-time data flows and causing downtime for downstream applications.
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Kafka Vulnerabilities Disclosed in 2025
Recent security disclosures have highlighted specific risks within the Kafka ecosystem. Below are three Kafka CVEs identified in 2025 that require immediate attention from system administrators.
CVE-2025-27819
Severity: Critical
Vulnerability Type: Remote Code Execution (RCE) via JMX
This vulnerability resides in the way Apache Kafka handles Java Management Extensions (JMX) remote connections when specific configurations are enabled. While JMX is typically used for monitoring, CVE-2025-27819 allows an attacker with network access to the JMX port to exploit unsafe deserialization of untrusted data.
If successful, an attacker can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Kafka process. This is particularly dangerous for deployments where JMX ports are exposed to wider networks for monitoring purposes without strict authentication.
Affected Versions: Kafka 2.0 through 3.3.2
CVE-2025-27818
Severity: High
Vulnerability Type: Improper Authentication in Kafka Connect
This CVE affects the Kafka Connect REST API. A flaw in the header parsing logic allows an attacker to bypass authentication mechanisms under high-load scenarios. By sending a specially crafted sequence of HTTP requests, an attacker can trick the worker into processing a request without a valid authentication token.
This vulnerability is significant because Kafka Connect often has access to external databases and sinks. Unauthorized access could allow an attacker to inject malicious data into downstream systems or exfiltrate sensitive configurations.
Affected Versions: Kafka 2.3 through 3.8
CVE-2025-27817
Severity: Medium
Vulnerability Type: Denial of Service (DoS) via Fetch Requests
This vulnerability allows an authenticated client to crash a Kafka broker by sending a malformed FetchRequest. The issue stems from an unhandled exception in the log reading component when processing specific record batch sizes.
While this requires authentication, the risk remains high for multi-tenant environments or systems where many clients have read access. A successful exploit can trigger a broker restart, leading to partition unavailability and consumer lag.
Affected Versions: Kafka 3.1 through 3.8
Back to topHow to Remediate Kafka CVEs
When faced with these vulnerabilities, swift action is necessary to protect your data pipeline.
- Audit Your Clusters: Immediately determine which version of Kafka and Kafka Connect you are running. Use tools like kafka-topics.sh --version or check your build manifests.
- Restrict Network Access: If you cannot patch immediately, ensure that JMX ports (related to CVE-2025-27819) are blocked by firewalls and accessible only via localhost or a secure VPN.
- Upgrade Components: The definitive fix for these CVEs is to upgrade to a later version or a patched build from an LTS provider like OpenLogic.
- Review Configuration: Ensure that security.inter.broker.protocol is set to SSL or SASL_SSL and that ACLs are strictly enforced to limit the blast radius if a user account is compromised.
Managing Kafka Upgrades and the Role of Long-Term Support (LTS)
The Kafka lifecycle, in a nutshell, is as follows: There are three releases per year and the community supports the current plus the last two releases at a time. Kafka 4.1 is the current version, which means that the final 3.x release (3.9.1) will reach end of life in 2026.
Upgrading a core infrastructure component like Apache Kafka is not simple. It requires rigorous testing, potential downtime, and coordination across multiple development teams. The upgrade path to Kafka 4 is also particularly cumbersome due to the removal of ZooKeeper, which has been replaced with KRaft.
This is where Kafka Long-Term Support (LTS) comes into play. If you’re running an unsupported (3.8 or earlier) or soon-to-be-unsupported version (3.9) and need more time to plan your Kafka migration, LTS enables you to postpone without putting your system at risk.
Benefits of OpenLogic’s Kafka LTS for 3.8 and 3.9 include:
- Backported Patches: Security fixes for critical CVEs are applied, allowing you to secure your environment against known CVEs without forcing a rushed migration to a supported 4.x version.
- Stability: You maintain the stability of your current version while ensuring it is hardened against modern threats.
- Expert Guidance: Access to experienced Enterprise Architects who can assist with configuration tuning and complex troubleshooting.
Final Thoughts
Like all software, Kafka requires vigilance to maintain security. The Kafka vulnerabilities disclosed in 2025 serve as a reminder that threats are constantly evolving. Whether you choose to stay on the bleeding edge of community releases or leverage Kafka LTS to secure your stable versions, having a proactive software lifecycle management strategy is essential.
By staying informed about the latest Kafka CVEs and understanding your remediation options, you can ensure your real-time data remains secure, reliable, and compliant. And of course, if you need more Kafka expertise at your disposal, explore OpenLogic's Kafka solutions including 24/7 SLA-backed technical support and managed services.