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CVE-2026-79993

Apache ZooKeeper: Missing ACL check on deleteContainer opcode allows unauthorized deletion of any empty persistent/container znode

Published: Sep 16, 2026Updated: Sep 18, 2026 Sources: CVE List NVDCWE-862
7.5HIGH
NVD MITRE
EPSS Score
0.6%
Top 52.3%
CISA KEV
Not in KEV
Exploits
No Known Exploits
Remediation
Patch Available
Self-Check
Not available

Description

The `deleteContainer` opcode (0x14/20) is processed without verifying the caller's ACL permissions, allowing any authenticated client to delete specific znodes in the data tree regardless of the ACL restrictions on the znode or its parent. This opcode is considered internal-only and the official client doesn't have API for it, but a client that can open a plain TCP session on the ZooKeeper client port (2181 by default) - with NO authentication and NO ACL permissions - can delete any empty persistent znode (including regular persistent nodes, container nodes, and TTL nodes) by issuing the raw protocol OpCode deleteContainer (20). The deleteContainer request path completely skips both the session check and the DELETE ACL check that are enforced by the regular delete (OpCode 2) path. This is an authorization bypass / ACL enforcement bug. This issue affects Apache ZooKeeper: from 3.9.0 through 3.9.5, from 3.8.0 through 3.8.6. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.9.6 or 3.8.7, which fixes the issue.

No summary for this CVE yet.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:NAC:LPR:NUI:NS:UC:NI:HA:N
Exploitability
AV:NAttack Vector
Network
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:NPrivileges Required
None
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:NConfidentiality
None
I:HIntegrity
High
A:NAvailability
None
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Weaknesses

CWE-862

Affected Products

Apache Software Foundation
oss-project·USaka apache foundation
Apache ZooKeeperOn-premWeb App
Databases / cache-message-queue
apache
oss-project·USaka apache http server, apache httpd
zookeeperOn-premDatabase
Databases / cache-message-queue

Exploitability

Official Patch Available
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Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

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MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques
Initial Access
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References

https://lists.apache.org/thread/9cw3rmrzhqpct26v8j18fy41bghlq8y5
lists.apache.org
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/09/15/5
openwall.com

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