Apache Spark, Apache Spark: RPC encryption defaults to unauthenticated AES-CTR mode, enabling man-in-the-middle ciphertext modification attacks
Description
This issue affects Apache Spark versions before 3.4.4, 3.5.2 and 4.0.0.
Apache Spark versions before 4.0.0, 3.5.2 and 3.4.4 use an insecure default network encryption cipher for RPC communication between nodes.
When spark.network.crypto.enabled is set to true (it is set to false by default), but spark.network.crypto.cipher is not explicitly configured, Spark defaults to AES in CTR mode (AES/CTR/NoPadding), which provides encryption without authentication.
This vulnerability allows a man-in-the-middle attacker to modify encrypted RPC traffic undetected by flipping bits in ciphertext, potentially compromising heartbeat messages or application data and affecting the integrity of Spark workflows.
To mitigate this issue, users should either configure spark.network.crypto.cipher to AES/GCM/NoPadding to enable authenticated encryption or
enable SSL encryption by setting spark.ssl.enabled to true, which provides stronger transport security.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Affected packages
Versions sourced from the GitHub Security Advisory.
| Package | Affected versions | Patched versions |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.spark:spark-network-common_2.13Maven | >= 3.5.0, < 3.5.2 | 3.5.2 |
org.apache.spark:spark-network-common_2.13Maven | < 3.4.4 | 3.4.4 |
org.apache.spark:spark-network-common_2.12Maven | < 3.4.4 | 3.4.4 |
org.apache.spark:spark-network-common_2.12Maven | >= 3.5.0, < 3.5.2 | 3.5.2 |
pysparkPyPI | < 3.4.4 | 3.4.4 |
pysparkPyPI | >= 3.5.0, < 3.5.2 | 3.5.2 |
Affected products
3- ghsa-coords2 versionspkg:maven/org.apache.spark/spark-network-common_2.12pkg:maven/org.apache.spark/spark-network-common_2.13
< 3.4.4+ 1 more
- (no CPE)range: < 3.4.4
- (no CPE)range: >= 3.5.0, < 3.5.2
- Apache Software Foundation/Apache Sparkv5Range: 3.5.0
Patches
Vulnerability mechanics
References
9- github.com/advisories/GHSA-6p6v-m64v-jx8qghsaADVISORY
- lists.apache.org/thread/zrgyy9l85nm2c7vk36vr7bkyorg3w4qqghsavendor-advisoryWEB
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-55039ghsaADVISORY
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/14/11ghsaWEB
- github.com/apache/spark/commit/05ba74e5f8043601b7af530429ceaf828d7bb329ghsaWEB
- github.com/apache/spark/commit/405b23b1aef889fad03bf4e3ced6d427dc9a43f4ghsaWEB
- github.com/apache/spark/commit/f0563ef64c7f42df21b16ccaeb4cf1324ea720f9ghsaWEB
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/pyspark/PYSEC-2025-184.yamlghsaWEB
- issues.apache.org/jira/browse/SPARK-47172ghsaWEB
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