Description
An unauthenticated attacker can inject arbitrary fake log lines into Apache ZooKeeper's operational log by sending a crafted add_auth("ensemble", ...) request containing newline characters (\n). When the ensemble name doesn't match, EnsembleAuthenticationProvider.handleAuthentication() logs the raw, unsanitized name via LOG.warn(). Because SLF4J's {} placeholder preserves embedded newlines, the attacker can forge complete log entries — with arbitrary timestamps, log levels, class names, and messages — that are visually indistinguishable from genuine ZooKeeper log output.

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 3.8.7 or 3.9.6, which fixes the issue.
Published: 2026-09-16
Score: 5.3 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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History

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apache
Apache zookeeper
Vendors & Products Apache
Apache zookeeper

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description An unauthenticated attacker can inject arbitrary fake log lines into Apache ZooKeeper's operational log by sending a crafted add_auth("ensemble", ...) request containing newline characters (\n). When the ensemble name doesn't match, EnsembleAuthenticationProvider.handleAuthentication() logs the raw, unsanitized name via LOG.warn(). Because SLF4J's {} placeholder preserves embedded newlines, the attacker can forge complete log entries — with arbitrary timestamps, log levels, class names, and messages — that are visually indistinguishable from genuine ZooKeeper log output. 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 3.8.7 or 3.9.6, which fixes the issue.
Title Apache ZooKeeper: Operational log forgery via newline injection in EnsembleAuthenticationProvider
Weaknesses CWE-117
References

Subscriptions

Apache Zookeeper
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: apache

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-16T19:43:09.161Z

Reserved: 2026-09-01T20:56:03.868Z

Link: CVE-2026-84501

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-09-16T10:12:02.894Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Undergoing Analysis

Published: 2026-09-16T10:16:53.557

Modified: 2026-09-16T20:17:34.620

Link: CVE-2026-84501

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-16T15:15:14Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-117

    Improper Output Neutralization for Logs