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CVE-2026-66756: Apache Tika: Improper Protection of Alternate Path

CVE-2026-66756 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 and affects Apache Tika. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

Improper Protection of Alternate Path vulnerability in Apache Tika. This issue affects Apache Tika: from 4.0.0-alpha-1 before 4.0.0-beta-1. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.0.0-beta-1, which fixes the issue.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.1 9.8: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

  • Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
  • Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
  • Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
  • User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
  • Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
  • Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
  • Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-424: Improper Protection of Alternate Path

The product does not sufficiently protect all possible paths that a user can take to access restricted functionality or resources.

Affected products

  • Apache Tika: 4.0.0 alpha1; 4.0.0 beta1-rc1

References