CVE-2026-46453 camel vulnerability
Improper Input Validation, Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerability in Apache Camel ElasticSearch Rest Client. The camel-elasticsearch-rest-client component reads several Exchange headers to control its behaviour - SEARCH_QUERY (an advanced query body), OPERATION (which Elasticsearch operation to run), INDEX_NAME, INDEX_SETTINGS and ID. The string values of these header constants, defined in ElasticSearchRestClientConstant, are plain unprefixed names ('SEARCH_QUERY', 'OPERATION', 'INDEX_NAME', 'INDEX_SETTINGS', 'ID') rather than the 'Camel'-prefixed names used by every other Camel component (for example CamelSqlQuery, CamelMongoDbCriteria, CamelCqlQuery). Camel's inbound HTTP header filter, HttpHeaderFilterStrategy, blocks only header names that begin with 'Camel' or 'camel'. Because the Elasticsearch header names do not carry that prefix, they pass through the inbound filter unchanged. When a Camel route exposes an HTTP entry point (for example platform-http) in front of an elasticsearch-rest-client producer, an untrusted HTTP client can set these headers directly on its request and override the query and operation that the route author configured: reading every document in the index (SEARCH_QUERY with a match_all query), deleting documents (OPERATION set to Delete together with ID), or exfiltrating selected fields. No credentials are required and the producer reads the headers unconditionally. This issue affects Apache Camel: from 4.3.0 before 4.14.8, from 4.15.0 before 4.18.3, from 4.19.0 before 4.21.0. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.21.0, which fixes the issue. If users are on the 4.14.x LTS releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.14.8. If users are on the 4.18.x releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.18.3. The fix renames the camel-elasticsearch-rest-client Exchange header constant string values (ID, SEARCH_QUERY, INDEX_SETTINGS, INDEX_NAME, OPERATION) to carry the Camel prefix (CamelElasticsearchId, CamelElasticsearchSearchQuery, CamelElasticsearchIndexSettings, CamelElasticsearchIndexName, CamelElasticsearchOperation) so that they are blocked by the inbound HttpHeaderFilterStrategy; the Java field names are unchanged. For deployments that cannot upgrade immediately, strip the affected headers from untrusted inbound messages before they reach the producer (for example removeHeader('SEARCH_QUERY'), removeHeader('OPERATION'), removeHeader('INDEX_NAME'), removeHeader('INDEX_SETTINGS') and removeHeader('ID') in front of the elasticsearch-rest-client endpoint), or apply a custom HeaderFilterStrategy that blocks these names.
Quick answer
apache camel should be reviewed and updated if it matches the affected versions. The recommended fix is to apply the vendor-supported patched version or the mitigation steps below, then retest the public website with Fixnx.
Who is affected
Affected versions
- Review vendor advisory for affected versions.
Fixed versions
- Apply the latest vendor-supported patched version.
How to fix it
CVE-2026-46453 affects Apache Camel affected component. Upgrade Apache Camel on the deployed branch to a fixed release (4.14.8, 4.18.3, 4.21.0) and review routes that expose this component to external or user-controlled messages. Affected ranges in the local NVD record are 4.3.0 through before 4.14.8; 4.15.0 through before 4.18.3; 4.19.0 through before 4.21.0.
- Inventory every service, integration route, container image, and build manifest that includes Apache Camel affected component or transitive Camel modules related to affected component.
- Compare each deployed Camel version with the affected ranges for CVE-2026-46453; treat 4.0.x-4.14.7, 4.15.x-4.18.2, and 4.19.x-4.20.x as needing an upgrade when the component is present.
- Upgrade to the fixed Camel release for the active branch: 4.14.8, 4.18.3, 4.21.0, or a later vendor-supported release.
- Rebuild application artifacts and container images from a clean dependency lockfile so no vulnerable Camel module remains through transitive dependencies.
- Harden exposed routes by filtering user-controlled Camel headers and component-specific control headers before data reaches Camel producers or internal route logic.
- Rotate credentials or integration tokens if logs, routing headers, backend endpoints, or message contents may have been exposed or redirected through the vulnerable route.
- Deploy first to staging, run regression tests for the impacted route, then promote to production with monitoring for routing errors, authorization failures, SSRF attempts, and unexpected message destinations.
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Verify the fix
- Confirm dependency output shows Apache Camel 4.14.8, 4.18.3, 4.21.0 or a later fixed release in every affected application.
- Run route-level tests that replay malicious or unexpected headers and verify they are removed, ignored, or rejected before reaching Camel internals.
- Check application logs after deployment for exceptions, leaked stack traces, SSRF indicators, unauthorized backend operations, or unexpected route destinations.
- Open the generated Fixnx page and confirm the canonical URL ends with camel-cve-2026-46453.
- Re-run sitemap validation and confirm camel-cve-2026-46453 appears once in sitemap.xml with the full CVE-2026-46453 suffix.
Related categories
Trusted references
FAQ
What is affected by CVE-2026-46453?
apache camel should be checked against the vendor advisory and trusted references linked on this page.
What should I fix first?
Start with internet-facing sites, admin panels, login flows, plugins, themes, modules, packages, and systems that process user-controlled input or sensitive data.
How do I confirm the fix worked?
Apply the patched version or mitigation, clear caches where relevant, retest the affected workflow, and run a new Fixnx scan to verify public website exposure signals.
How are Fixnx security risk categories chosen?
Fixnx keeps one canonical risk page and assigns only broad, relevant categories such as ecosystem, technology area, or vulnerability class.
