Apache Spark, Apache Spark: RPC encryption defaults to unauthenticated AES-CTR mode, enabling man-in-the-middle ciphertext modification attacks (Apache Software Foundation Apache Spark)
At a glance
- Source
- NVD
- EPSS
- EPSS 0.21 % · percentile 11 ()
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Published
- Updated
- Assigner
- apache
- NVD status
- Modified
Description
This issue affects Apache Spark versions before 3.4.4, 3.5.2 and 4.0.0. Apache Spark versions before 4.0.0, 3.5.2 and 3.4.4 use an insecure default network encryption cipher for RPC communication between nodes. When spark.network.crypto.enabled is set to true (it is set to false by default), but spark.network.crypto.cipher is not explicitly configured, Spark defaults to AES in CTR mode (AES/CTR/NoPadding), which provides encryption without authentication. This vulnerability allows a man-in-the-middle attacker to modify encrypted RPC traffic undetected by flipping bits in ciphertext, potentially compromising heartbeat messages or application data and affecting the integrity of Spark workflows. To mitigate this issue, users should either configure spark.network.crypto.cipher to AES/GCM/NoPadding to enable authenticated encryption or enable SSL encryption by setting spark.ssl.enabled to true, which provides stronger transport security.
Weaknesses (CWE)
- CWE-347 — Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
- CWE-326 — Inadequate Encryption Strength
References
Scores
| Version | Score | Vector | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM 6.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N | CISA-ADP |
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM 6.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N | NVD · 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 (Secondary) |
Advisories
- GHSA-6p6v-m64v-jx8q — Apache Spark has Inadequate Encryption Strength
- PYSEC-2025-184 — This issue affects Apache Spark versions before 3.4.4, 3.5.2 and 4.0.0.
European references
- ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2025-34531
- GCVE · GCVE-0-2025-55039
Affected configurations (NVD CPE)
cpe:2.3:a:apache:spark:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*< 3.4.4cpe:2.3:a:apache:spark:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*≥ 3.5.0 < 3.5.2
Affected products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| Apache Software Foundation · Apache Spark | affected 3.5.0 < 3.5.2 ; affected 0 < 3.4.4 |
| Apache Software Foundation · Apache Spark | affected 3.5.0 < 3.5.2 ; affected 0 < 3.4.4 |
Sources
| Source | Licence |
|---|---|
| CVE List (CVEProject cvelistV5) | CVE Program Terms of Use |
| EPSS (FIRST.org) | FIRST — attribution requested |
| ENISA EUVD | ENISA — reproduction authorised, source acknowledged |
| NVD (NIST) via fkie-cad/nvd-json-data-feeds | Public domain — this product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD |