CVE-2024-27135 — pulsar-functions-worker
HIGHCVE-2024-27135 is a high-severity (CVSS 8.5) Improper Input Validation vulnerability in org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker. A fix is available for org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Apache Pulsar: Improper Input Validation in Pulsar Function Worker allows Remote Code Execution
Exploitation Status
No confirmed exploitation observed yet
- A successful exploit gives an attacker total control of the affected component, not partial access.
- CISA’s own triage has not observed active exploitation or public proof-of-concept code for this CVE as of its last assessment.
Exploitation and automatability from CISA’s SSVC triage for CVE-2024-27135.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
How urgent is this, really
CVE-2024-27135 plotted by exploitation likelihood (EPSS) against impact (CVSS). The shaded corner — EPSS 50%+ and CVSS 7.0+ — is where this CVE doesn't sit, though severity or exploitability alone can still warrant action.
Where this sits among everything scored
Of 378,156 CVEs with a current EPSS score, this one falls in the < 10% band (highlighted). Real counts from FIRST.org, not a sample — log-scaled since the landscape is heavily right-skewed.
Real-World Exposure
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker☕org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker☕org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker☕org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker☕org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-workerReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
Improper input validation in the Pulsar Function Worker allows a malicious authenticated user to execute arbitrary Java code on the Pulsar Function worker, outside of the sandboxes designated for running user-provided functions. This vulnerability also applies to the Pulsar Broker when it is configured with "functionsWorkerEnabled=true".
This issue affects Apache Pulsar versions from 2.4.0 to 2.10.5, from 2.11.0 to 2.11.3, from 3.0.0 to 3.0.2, from 3.1.0 to 3.1.2, and 3.2.0.
2.10 Pulsar Function Worker users should upgrade to at least 2.10.6. 2.11 Pulsar Function Worker users should upgrade to at least 2.11.4. 3.0 Pulsar Function Worker users should upgrade to at least 3.0.3. 3.1 Pulsar Function Worker users should upgrade to at least 3.1.3. 3.2 Pulsar Function Worker users should upgrade to at least 3.2.1.
Users operating versions prior to those listed above should upgrade to the aforementioned patched versions or newer versions.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker | ≥ 2.4.0&&< 2.10.6 | 2.10.6org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker:2.10.6 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker | ≥ 2.11.0&&< 2.11.4 | 2.11.4org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker:2.11.4 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker | ≥ 3.0.0&&< 3.0.3 | 3.0.3org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker:3.0.3 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker | ≥ 3.1.0&&< 3.1.3 | 3.1.3org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker:3.1.3 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker | ≥ 3.2.0&&< 3.2.1 | 3.2.1org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker:3.2.1 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-functions-worker to 2.10.6 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2024-27135 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 Security's impact-aware SCA analyses which vulnerable code paths your application actually calls, so a match like CVE-2024-27135 can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.
Tailored to CVE-2024-27135. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2024-27135 in your dependencies?
O3 Security finds CVE-2024-27135 across Maven dependencies, including transitive ones, and its impact-aware SCA ranks findings by whether your code actually calls the vulnerable path.