Apache Spark UI can allow impersonation if ACLs enabled
High8.8CVE-2022-33891 · Published Jul 19, 2022 · updated Jun 9, 2026
Affected versions
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| pyspark PyPI | < 3.1.3 | 3.1.3 |
| >= 3.2.0, < 3.2.2 | 3.2.2 |
Details and references
The Apache Spark UI offers the possibility to enable ACLs via the configuration option `spark.acls.enable`. With an authentication filter, this checks whether a user has access permissions to view or modify the application. If ACLs are enabled, a code path in HttpSecurityFilter can allow someone to perform impersonation by providing an arbitrary user name. A malicious user might then be able to reach a permission check function that will ultimately build a Unix shell command based on their input, and execute it. This will result in arbitrary shell command execution as the user Spark is currently running as. This affects Apache Spark versions 3.0.3 and earlier, versions 3.1.1 to 3.1.2, and versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.1. A previous version of this advisory incorrectly stated that version 3.1.3 was not vulnerable. Per [GHSA-59hw-j9g6-mfg3](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-59hw-j9g6-mfg3), version 3.1.3 is vulnerable and vulnerable version ranges in this advisory have been changed to reflect the correct information.
- CVSS 3.1
- CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H
- Severity from
- GitHub (reviewed advisory)
- Weakness
- CWE-78
- Also known as
- BIT-spark-2022-33891, CVE-2022-33891, PYSEC-2022-236
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-33891
- github.com/apache/spark
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/pyspark/PYSEC-2022-236.yaml
- lists.apache.org/thread/p847l3kopoo5bjtmxrcwk21xp6tjxqlc
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/168309/Apache-Spark-Unauthenticated-Command-Injection.html
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-33891
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/05/02/1
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/168309/Apache-Spark-Unauthenticated-Command-Injection.html
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/05/02/1
More Apache Spark advisories
All Apache Spark| Date | Advisory | Severity | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 12022 | Apache Spark vulnerable to Log Injection CVE-2022-31777Medium5.4fixed in 3.2.2, 3.3.1 | Medium5.4 | 3.2.2, 3.3.1 |
| Mar 112022 | Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay in Apache Spark CVE-2021-38296High7.5fixed in 3.1.3 | High7.5 | 3.1.3 |
| Feb 102022 | Improper Authentication in Apache Spark CVE-2020-9480Critical9.8fixed in 2.4.6 | Critical9.8 | 2.4.6 |
| Apr 172023 | Apache Spark vulnerable to Improper Privilege Management CVE-2023-22946Critical9.9fixed in 3.3.2, 3.3.3 | Critical9.9 | 3.3.2, 3.3.3 |
| May 22023 | Apache Spark UI vulnerable to Command Injection CVE-2023-32007High8.8fixed in 3.2.2 | High8.8 | 3.2.2 |
| Aug 82019 | Sensitive data written to disk unencrypted in Spark CVE-2019-10099High7.5fixed in 2.3.3 | High7.5 | 2.3.3 |