What’s Vulnerable › Vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-41115: Apache Kafka: Improper Authorization in CONSUMER_GROUP_DESCRIBE API

• Severity: medium (CVSS 4.3 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
• EPSS: 0.3% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: none known
• Published: 2026-06-02 · updated 2026-07-22
• Weakness: CWE-285

Description

An improper authorization vulnerability has been identified in Apache Kafka. The implementation of the CONSUMER_GROUP_DESCRIBE (69) API validates the DESCRIBE operation on the GROUP resource instead of the READ operation that documented in the official kafka documentation and the KIP-848. This discrepancy can result in misconfigured Access Control Lists (ACLs) and unintended security postures, like granting READ permission to users who should not be able to join/sync groups, or allowing users without READ permission (but with DESCRIBE permission) to access sensitive group metadata. The correct permission for CONSUMER_GROUP_DESCRIBE API is DESCRIBE GROUP so the current implementation is correct. However, the kafka documentation as well as the KIP-848 will be updated to reflect the correct permission. We advise the Kafka users to review existing group ACLs to ensure the principle of least privilege.

Affected products

• Apache Kafka: from 4.0.0 through 4.3.0

References

• https://kafka.apache.org/cve-list
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/06/02/5

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