CVE-2026-55976

CVE-2026-55976 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Apache Hive with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.1. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-918.

Key facts

Description

Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) in Avro SerDe schema resolution in Apache Hive before 4.2.1 allows an authenticated remote attacker with CREATE TABLE privilege to cause the Hive server to fetch an attacker-controlled URL when resolving the avro.schema.url table property on an Avro table that is subsequently queried. This can expose cloud instance metadata, internal network services, or local server files to the Hive process identity. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.2.1, which fixes this issue. Attacker access requirements: * Network access to HiveServer2 / Metastore: required (remote attacker model). * Valid Hive authentication: required. * CREATE TABLE (or equivalent) privilege: required, so the attacker can set avro.schema.url in table properties. * SELECT privilege on the malicious table: not required for the creator, who can typically query their own table; any other user granted SELECT can also trigger the fetch. * Write access to the table LOCATION: not required; the attack uses the schema URL, not the data path. * Admin / superuser privileges: not required; an ordinary authenticated user with DDL rights is sufficient. * External tables enabled: typically required in practice, and enabled by default in most deployments. Detection guidance: * Inspect metastore / Hive table metadata for Avro tables whose avro.schema.url uses unexpected schemes such as http, https, file, or ftp, or points at link-local / cloud metadata addresses (for example 169.254.169.254) or other internal hosts. * Review HiveServer2 and Metastore logs around CREATE/ALTER TABLE and queries against Avro tables for schema-resolution failures or outbound fetches of avro.schema.url. * Correlate CREATE TABLE / ALTER TABLE activity that sets avro.schema.url with subsequent SELECT activity on the same table, especially when the URL target is unusual for schema distribution. * On cloud deployments, check instance / VPC flow logs and metadata service access logs for unexpected requests from Hive host identities shortly after Avro DDL or query activity.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-55976?
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) in Avro SerDe schema resolution in Apache Hive before 4.2.1 allows an authenticated remote attacker with CREATE TABLE privilege to cause the Hive server to fetch an attacker-controlled URL when resolving the avro.schema.url table property on an Avro table that is subsequently queried. This can expose cloud instance metadata, internal network services, or local server files to the Hive process identity. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.2.1, which fixes this issue. Attacker access requirements: * Network access to HiveServer2 / Metastore: required (remote attacker model). * Valid Hive authentication: required. * CREATE TABLE (or equivalent) privilege: required, so the attacker can set avro.schema.url in table properties. * SELECT privilege on the malicious table: not required for the creator, who can typically query their own table; any other user granted SELECT can also trigger the fetch. * Write access to the table LOCATION: not required; the attack uses the schema URL, not the data path. * Admin / superuser privileges: not required; an ordinary authenticated user with DDL rights is sufficient. * External tables enabled: typically required in practice, and enabled by default in most deployments. Detection guidance: * Inspect metastore / Hive table metadata for Avro tables whose avro.schema.url uses unexpected schemes such as http, https, file, or ftp, or points at link-local / cloud metadata addresses (for example 169.254.169.254) or other internal hosts. * Review HiveServer2 and Metastore logs around CREATE/ALTER TABLE and queries against Avro tables for schema-resolution failures or outbound fetches of avro.schema.url. * Correlate CREATE TABLE / ALTER TABLE activity that sets avro.schema.url with subsequent SELECT activity on the same table, especially when the URL target is unusual for schema distribution. * On cloud deployments, check instance / VPC flow logs and metadata service access logs for unexpected requests from Hive host identities shortly after Avro DDL or query activity.
How severe is CVE-2026-55976?
CVE-2026-55976 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.1, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.
Is CVE-2026-55976 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (63rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2026-55976?
CVE-2026-55976 affects Apache Hive. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2026-55976?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2026-55976 published?
CVE-2026-55976 was published on 2026-08-25 and last updated on 2026-09-28.

References

Affected products (1)

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