dd-trace-java: Unsafe deserialization in RMI instrumentation may lead to remote code execution

Summary

dd-trace-java is a Datadog APM client for Java. In versions of dd-trace-java 0.40.0 through prior to 1.60.2, the RMI instrumentation registered a custom endpoint that deserialized incoming data without applying serialization filters. On JDK version 16 and earlier, an attacker with network access to a JMX or RMI port on an instrumented JVM could exploit this to potentially achieve remote code execution. All three of the following conditions must be true to exploit this vulnerability: First, dd-trace-java is attached as a Java agent (`-javaagent`) on Java 16 or earlier. Second, a JMX/RMI port has been explicitly configured via `-Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.port` and is network-reachable, Third, a gadget-chain-compatible library is present on the classpath. For JDK >= 17, no action is required, but upgrading is strongly encouraged. For JDK >= 8u121 < JDK 17, upgrade to dd-trace-java version 1.60.3 or later. For JDK < 8u121 and earlier where serialization filters are not available, apply the workaround. The workaround is to set the following environment variable to disable the RMI integration: `DD_INTEGRATION_RMI_ENABLED=false`.

Timeline

1. Mar 27, 2026, 12:25 AM UTCCVE published
2. Mar 27, 2026, 7:57 PM UTCCISA SSVC assessment

   Exploitation: none · Automatable: yes · Technical impact: total

3. Mar 27, 2026, 7:57 PM UTCRecord last updated

Affected versions

• DataDog dd-trace-java

  From 0.40.0 · fixed in 1.60.3

• com.datadoghq:dd-java-agentMaven

  From 0.40.0 · fixed in 1.60.3

References 2