CVE-2021-38296

Apache Spark Key Negotiation Vulnerability

HIGH
7.5
CVSS Score
Published: March 10, 2022 at 08:20 AM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 04:01 AM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsSparkFinancial Services Crime and Compliance Management Studio

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Severity
HIGH7.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 2%

Description

Apache Spark supports end-to-end encryption of RPC connections via "spark.authenticate" and "spark.network.crypto.enabled". In versions 3.1.2 and earlier, it uses a bespoke mutual authentication protocol that allows for full encryption key recovery. After an initial interactive attack, this would allow someone to decrypt plaintext traffic offline. Note that this does not affect security mechanisms controlled by "spark.authenticate.enableSaslEncryption", "spark.io.encryption.enabled", "spark.ssl", "spark.ui.strictTransportSecurity". Update to Apache Spark 3.1.3 or later

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 3.1.3up to and including version 3.1.2 ≤ v ≤ 3.1.2
Affected range stops below 3.1.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

References (2)

CVSS

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
NONE
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-294

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