# CVE-2026-91006: Apache Karaf instance-management command injection in javaOpts

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-91006-apache-karaf-s-instance-management-service-instanceserviceimpl  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-28. Updated: 2026-09-28  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-91006 · Severity: info · Published 2026-09-28

Apache Karaf's instance-management service allows administrators to create and configure child JVM instances through shell commands or JMX operations. When building the command line to launch these instances, the service concatenates user-supplied Java options directly into a shell command without proper escaping. An attacker with access to these commands could inject shell metacharacters to execute arbitrary operating system commands with the privileges of the Karaf process.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-91006 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-91006 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-91006?** Informational severity, published 28 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Apache Karaf.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-91006?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-91006 attacked?** It is attacked over the network or with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-91006?** Check whether you run Apache Karaf. 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.

## Technical details

The InstanceServiceImpl builds shell commands via string concatenation of caller-supplied javaOpts without quoting or escaping, then executes the result through /bin/sh (Unix) or cscript (Windows). Shell metacharacters (;, |, `, $(...)) in javaOpts are interpreted by the shell rather than passed to the JVM, enabling arbitrary command execution. The vulnerability is reachable via instance:create, instance:start, instance:restart, instance:change-opts shell commands and equivalent InstanceMBean JMX operations (createInstance, startInstance, changeJavaOpts, cloneInstance).

## Affected products

- Apache Karaf

## Timeline

- 2026-09-28: disclosed

## References

- [https://lists.apache.org/thread/olzy0yjw82b20w59vonfjr1x7v5yzocr](https://lists.apache.org/thread/olzy0yjw82b20w59vonfjr1x7v5yzocr)

## Related threats

- [Apache Karaf JMX RBAC bypass via MBean lifecycle operations](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-92142-apache-karaf-exposes-a-jmx-mbeanserver-guarded-by)
- [Apache Karaf config:install command authorization bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-91085-apache-karaf-s-shell-ssh-command-security-is-enforced-by-per)
- [Apache Karaf JDBC shell privilege escalation to RCE](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-91048-the-jdbc-shell-command-scope-shipped-no-org-apache-karaf-command)
- [Apache Karaf config path traversal in ConfigRepositoryImpl](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-91012-org-apache-karaf-config-core-impl-configrepositoryimpl-update-pid)
- [Apache Karaf unbounded Metaspace growth via ThreadLocal caching](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-92230-apache-karaf-unbounded-metaspace-growth-via-threadlocal-caching)