CVE-2026-53561
Received Received - Intake

Improper Authentication in Apache Hive via SAML Bearer Token Forgery

Publication date: 2026-08-25

Last updated on: 2026-08-25

Assigner: Apache Software Foundation

Description
An improper authentication vulnerability in HiveServer2 SAML bearer-token validation in Apache Hive 4.0.0 through 4.2.0 (and later unreleased branches) on deployments using HTTP transport with hive.server2.authentication=SAML allows an unauthenticated network attacker to authenticate as an arbitrary Hive user and obtain an authenticated HiveServer2 session via a forged Authorization: Bearer token sent to the /cliservice HTTP endpoint. Users are recommended to upgrade to 4.2.1 version that includes the fix for this issue. Access / authorization required: No Hive credentials, SAML IdP login, or knowledge of the server signing secret is required. The attacker only needs network reachability to the HiveServer2 HTTP port (typically /cliservice), directly or through a reverse proxy such as Apache Knox that forwards unauthenticated requests to HS2. The instance must have SAML authentication enabled in HTTP mode. Deployments where Knox handles SSO and HiveServer2 uses LDAP/Kerberos (not native SAML mode) are not affected by this specific issue.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-25
Last Modified
2026-08-25
Generated
2026-08-25
AI Q&A
2026-08-25
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-53561
EUVD
EUVD-2026-65394

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
apache hive From 4.0.0 (inc) to 4.2.0 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-287 When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
CWE-345 The product does not sufficiently verify the origin or authenticity of data, in a way that causes it to accept invalid data.
CWE-305 The authentication algorithm is sound, but the implemented mechanism can be bypassed as the result of a separate weakness that is primary to the authentication error.

Attack-Flow Graph

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability is an improper authentication issue in Apache Hive's SAML bearer-token validation. It affects HiveServer2 deployments using HTTP transport with SAML authentication enabled. An unauthenticated attacker can forge an Authorization Bearer token to bypass authentication and gain access to an authenticated HiveServer2 session via the /cliservice endpoint.

Detection Guidance

To detect this vulnerability, check if your Apache Hive deployment uses SAML authentication in HTTP mode with HiveServer2. Verify if the version is 4.0.0 through 4.2.0. Inspect network traffic to the /cliservice endpoint for unauthorized Bearer tokens. Use logs to identify suspicious authentication attempts or forged tokens.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could exploit this to authenticate as any Hive user without credentials or knowledge of the server's signing secret. This grants unauthorized access to Hive data and operations. The only requirement is network access to the HiveServer2 HTTP port, typically /cliservice.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized data access, violating confidentiality requirements in GDPR and HIPAA. It undermines access controls and audit trails, potentially resulting in compliance breaches and regulatory penalties.

Mitigation Strategies

Upgrade Apache Hive to version 4.2.1 or later to apply the HIVE-29653 patch. Disable SAML authentication in HTTP mode if not required. Restrict network access to the HiveServer2 HTTP port. Monitor /cliservice endpoint for unauthorized access attempts.

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