# CVE-2026-83525: Apache Kafka incorrect operator in FetchSnapshot RPC handler

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-83525-incorrect-operator-cwe-480-in-the-fetchsnapshot-rpc-handler-in  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-28. Updated: 2026-10-28  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-83525 · Severity: info · Published 2026-10-28

Apache Kafka is a distributed messaging system used for real-time data streaming in enterprise applications. An authenticated attacker with cluster privileges can craft a malicious snapshot fetch request with empty topics to crash the Kafka controller process, causing a denial of service and disrupting message delivery across the cluster.

Technologies: [Apache Kafka](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/kafka). Vendors: [Apache](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/apache).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-83525 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-83525 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-83525?** Informational severity, published 28 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Apache Kafka 2.8.0 before 4.2.2, 4.3.0 before 4.3.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-83525?** Yes: fixed in Kafka 4.2.2, 4.3.2, 4.4.0. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-83525 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-83525?** Check whether you run Apache Kafka at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in Kafka 4.2.2, 4.3.2, 4.4.0

## Technical details

A logic error (CWE-480: incorrect comparison operator) in the FetchSnapshot RPC handler allows an authenticated attacker with CLUSTER_ACTION privilege to trigger controller process termination. The vulnerable code uses AND (&&) instead of OR (||) when validating that a FetchSnapshotRequest contains exactly one topic with one partition, allowing requests with empty topics arrays or topics with no partitions to bypass validation and cause a denial of service.

## Affected products

- Apache Kafka 2.8.0 before 4.2.2, 4.3.0 before 4.3.2

## References

- [https://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2](https://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2)
- [https://github.com/apache/kafka/pull/23185](https://github.com/apache/kafka/pull/23185)

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