---
id: CVE-2026-54712
aliases:
  - GHSA-fq3f-m5qm-99f5
title: OpenTelemetry Javaagent RMI context propagation allows resource exhaustion
summary: OpenTelemetry Javaagent RMI context propagation allows resource exhaustion
severity: medium
cvss: 5.3
cwe:
  - CWE-400
vendor: opentelemetry
product: 'io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent'
ecosystem: maven
affected:
  - 'io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent < 2.27.0'
patched:
  - 'io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent 2.27.0'
published: '2026-07-29'
updated: '2026-07-29'
source: GHSA
sourceUrl: 'https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-fq3f-m5qm-99f5'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/security/advisories/GHSA-fq3f-m5qm-99f5
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54712'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/pull/17870
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/commit/6ef18806d5daa4913619e4cb33d2d7ed6a853c22
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/releases/tag/v2.27.0
  - url: 'https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-fq3f-m5qm-99f5'
tags:
  - ghsa
  - maven
epss: 0.0046
epssPercentile: 0.37267
ingestedAt: '2026-07-29T17:48:50.038Z'
---

## Overview

The RMI context propagation payload reader limits the number of context entries but does not limit the aggregate size of the strings read from the stream.

An attacker who can reach an RMI endpoint on an instrumented JVM can send an oversized context propagation payload. This can cause excessive memory allocation while the JVM reads the payload, potentially leading to denial of service.

The issue affects only deployments where RMI instrumentation is enabled and an RMI endpoint is network-reachable.

## Affected packages

- `io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent < 2.27.0`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `io.opentelemetry.javaagent:opentelemetry-javaagent 2.27.0`