Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-23529 affects Aiven’s BigQuery Kafka Connect Sink connector before 2.11.0. A user who can submit connector configuration may cause the service to read unintended files or make server-side requests through crafted Google credential settings. The main business risk is exposure of sensitive local data or internal services from systems running the connector.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority platform remediation if this connector is deployed. Prioritize shared or self-service Kafka Connect environments first, because the issue depends on who can submit connector configuration and what files or internal endpoints the connector runtime can reach.
Technical view
The connector passes externally supplied Google Cloud credential configuration to Google authentication libraries without sufficient validation. Crafted credential_source.file paths may trigger arbitrary file reads, and credential_source.url endpoints may enable SSRF. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.7, requiring low privileges, no user interaction, network access, changed scope, and high confidentiality impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where Apache Kafka Connect deployments use Aiven-Open bigquery-connector-for-apache-kafka versions earlier than 2.11.0 and allow users, tenants, or automation to create or modify BigQuery sink connector configurations.
Exploitation context
The CVE record does not indicate known active exploitation, and KEV status is false. Exploitation requires privilege to provide or alter connector configuration, but that may be realistic in shared Kafka Connect environments, CI/CD-managed connector deployments, or multi-team data platforms.
Researcher notes
Evidence identifies CWE-73 and CWE-918. The public advisory and CVE describe the issue class and fixed version, but the bundle does not provide active exploitation evidence. Validate impact by reviewing configuration trust boundaries and connector runtime access rather than attempting offensive reproduction.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade bigquery-connector-for-apache-kafka to version 2.11.0 or later.
- Restrict connector creation and configuration changes to trusted administrators.
- Review existing BigQuery sink connector credential configuration sources.
- Follow Aiven and Google guidance for any additional hardening recommendations.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Kafka Connect clusters using the Aiven BigQuery sink connector.
- Confirm connector versions are 2.11.0 or later.
- Review access controls for connector configuration APIs and deployment pipelines.
- Check connector configs for externally sourced credential file or URL references.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-73: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCWE-918: Information exposure and cloud metadata lookup
Information exposure and SSRF weaknesses can make discovery, cloud metadata, and credential material review relevant. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCredential and access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCloud metadata behavior lookup
The CVE wording references SSRF or metadata access, so cloud discovery and credential material review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-23529 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N3.14Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.7HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/Aiven-Open/bigquery-connector-for-apache-kafka/security/advisories/GHSA-3mg8-2g53-5gj4CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/Aiven-Open/bigquery-connector-for-apache-kafka/commit/20ea3921c6fe72d605a033c1943b20f49eaba981CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://docs.cloud.google.com/support/bulletins#gcp-2025-005CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/Aiven-Open/bigquery-connector-for-apache-kafka/releases/tag/v2.11.0CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
External Control of File Name or Path
External Control of File Name or Path represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.