External risk intelligence

Apache IoTDB Authentication Bypass via Session ID Spoofing

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.1)

CVE-2026-24013

Apache IoTDB is a database system designed for time-series data. While it utilizes RPC communication for query handling, these services are typically deployed within internal or restricted network segments to support industrial or data-collecting environments. Public internet exposure is not the primary or default deployment pattern for this type of backend infrastructure.

Authentication Bypass

Halo Surface Signal: 3 out of 5 — possibly public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

This vulnerability impacts Apache IoTDB, a system used for managing time-series data. It allows an attacker to bypass authentication by sending a specially crafted request, potentially leading to unauthorized access and reading of sensitive time-series data. The main concern is confirming if our environment uses this technology and is exposed.

Unauthorized data access is possible.
It affects systems handling time-series data.
Confirm relevance and exposure of affected systems.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker can bypass authentication in Apache IoTDB by crafting special requests to the Thrift RPC interface. By sending a request with a fake session ID, an attacker can trick the system into thinking they are a legitimate user and then access query results without going through the normal login process. This allows them to read sensitive time-series data without authorization.

No authentication needed to start.
Forged session ID in RPC requests.
Unauthorized access to data.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated attacker to bypass authentication and read time-series data. This is possible when the Thrift RPC query handlers do not strictly validate the sessionId parameter, enabling an attacker to forge a sessionId and access query results without proper authentication.

Time-series data is at risk.
Attackers can forge session IDs.
Unauthorized data access is possible.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The Apache IoTDB platform is likely managed by a dedicated infrastructure or platform team responsible for its availability and security. Initial triage should focus on identifying all IoTDB instances, assessing their exposure, and confirming ownership. Subsequently, coordination with the relevant team will be necessary to plan and implement the upgrade to a secure version.

Platform or infrastructure teams own the issue.
Verify IoTDB instance exposure and reachability.
Plan and execute upgrade to secure version.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Apache IoTDB?

Apache IoTDB is a specialized database system designed to handle large volumes of time-series data. It is commonly used in industrial, Internet of Things, and data-collecting environments to store and query sensor readings or machine telemetry over time, often serving as a backend for data analysis and monitoring applications.

What does CWE-290 mean for CVE-2026-24013?

CWE-290 refers to Authentication Bypass by Spoofing. In the context of CVE-2026-24013, it means the software fails to properly verify the identity of the person making a request. Because the system does not strictly check the provided session ID, it can be tricked into accepting a fake identifier, allowing an unauthorized user to gain access as if they were a logged-in user.

How can an attacker trigger this vulnerability?

An attacker can trigger this by sending a specially crafted request to the Thrift RPC interface used by the database. The bug specifically involves the system accepting a forged session ID instead of requiring a valid login. Sending a legitimate request that follows standard authentication procedures will not trigger the vulnerability, as the issue only occurs when the system is misled by the spoofed identifier.

Do I need to worry about internet exposure?

According to Halo Surface Signal, Apache IoTDB is typically deployed within internal or restricted network segments rather than being exposed to the public internet. While the vulnerability is classified as having a network attack vector, its relevance depends on your specific infrastructure; systems isolated from the public web are at significantly lower risk of direct exploitation.

When should I take action for this vulnerability?

You should prioritize this by first identifying all instances of Apache IoTDB running in your environment. Since the vulnerability allows unauthorized data access, you should coordinate with the platform or infrastructure team responsible for these systems to schedule an upgrade to version 2.0.8, which contains the fix for the session ID validation issue.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.