CVE-2025-30065: Critical Deserialization Vulnerability in Apache Parquet's parquet-avro Module

Robert Morgan

Robert Morgan

— 4 min read

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-30065 is a critical vulnerability affecting the parquet-avro module of Apache Parquet Java. This vulnerability, classified as a deserialization of untrusted data flaw (CWE-502), allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on systems processing maliciously crafted Parquet files. The vulnerability exists in versions 1.15.0 and earlier. Successful exploitation requires no user interaction and can lead to complete compromise of the affected system. Users are strongly advised to upgrade to version 1.15.1 or later to mitigate this risk. The vulnerability has a CVSS v4.0 score of 10.0, indicating its severity and ease of exploitation.

Technical Details

The vulnerability resides within the parquet-avro module, which is responsible for handling Avro schemas embedded within Parquet file metadata. Apache Parquet is a columnar storage format widely used in big data processing and analytics. The parquet-avro module facilitates the integration of Avro schemas with Parquet data, enabling schema evolution and data serialization/deserialization.

Affected Systems:

  • Any system using the Apache Parquet Java library with the parquet-avro module.
  • Specifically, systems running versions 1.15.0 and earlier of the org.apache.parquet:parquet-avro package.

Affected Software Versions:

  • org.apache.parquet:parquet-avro versions <= 1.15.0

Affected Components:

  • The Avro schema parsing logic within the parquet-avro module. This component is responsible for deserializing Avro schema definitions from Parquet file metadata.

Vulnerability Class:

  • CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data

The core issue lies in the insecure deserialization of Avro schemas. When the parquet-avro module parses an Avro schema from a Parquet file, it does not adequately validate the schema's contents. This allows an attacker to inject malicious code within the schema definition, which is then executed during the deserialization process.

Root Cause Analysis

The root cause of CVE-2025-30065 is the lack of proper input validation during the deserialization of Avro schemas within the parquet-avro module. The Avro schema format allows for complex data types and custom logical types. If these logical types are not handled securely, they can be exploited to execute arbitrary code.

Specifically, the vulnerability arises from the use of Java's reflection mechanism during deserialization. When a custom logical type is encountered in the Avro schema, the parquet-avro module attempts to instantiate the corresponding Java class using reflection. If an attacker can control the class name specified in the schema, they can force the module to instantiate a malicious class that executes arbitrary code.

Consider the following simplified example of a malicious Avro schema:

{
  "type": "record",
  "name": "MaliciousRecord",
  "fields": [
    {
      "name": "evilField",
      "type": {
        "type": "string",
        "logicalType": "org.example.MaliciousClass"
      }
    }
  ]
}

In this example, the logicalType field specifies a class named org.example.MaliciousClass. If the parquet-avro module attempts to instantiate this class without proper validation, it could lead to arbitrary code execution.

Here's a hypothetical code snippet illustrating the vulnerable deserialization process:

// Vulnerable code (simplified)
String logicalType = schema.getField("evilField").schema().getProp("logicalType");
Class<?> clazz = Class.forName(logicalType); // Insecure: attacker-controlled class name
Object instance = clazz.newInstance(); // Arbitrary code execution

The Class.forName() method dynamically loads a class based on its name. If the logicalType variable is controlled by an attacker, they can specify a malicious class that executes arbitrary code when instantiated. The newInstance() method then creates an instance of this class, triggering the malicious code.

A more sophisticated attack might involve leveraging existing classes within the Java runtime environment to achieve code execution. For example, an attacker could use a class that allows them to execute shell commands or manipulate system resources.

Another potential attack vector involves exploiting vulnerabilities in third-party libraries that are used by the parquet-avro module. If these libraries have known deserialization vulnerabilities, an attacker could leverage them to execute arbitrary code.

Mitigation Strategies

To mitigate CVE-2025-30065, users are strongly advised to upgrade to Apache Parquet Java version 1.15.1 or later. This version includes a fix that addresses the insecure deserialization issue.

Upgrade Instructions:

  • If you are using Maven, update the parquet-avro dependency in your pom.xml file to version 1.15.1 or later:
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.parquet</groupId>
    <artifactId>parquet-avro</artifactId>
    <version>1.15.1</version>
</dependency>
  • If you are using Gradle, update the parquet-avro dependency in your build.gradle file:
dependencies {
    implementation 'org.apache.parquet:parquet-avro:1.15.1'
}

Configuration Changes:

While upgrading to version 1.15.1 is the primary mitigation strategy, consider the following configuration changes to further enhance security:

  • Restrict Access to Parquet Files: Limit access to Parquet files to trusted sources only. Avoid processing Parquet files from untrusted or unknown origins.
  • Input Validation: Implement strict input validation on any data that is used to generate Avro schemas. Sanitize and validate all user-supplied input to prevent malicious code injection.
  • Disable Dynamic Class Loading: If possible, disable dynamic class loading in your Java environment. This can help to prevent attackers from loading malicious classes at runtime. However, this may not be feasible in all environments, as it can break legitimate functionality.

Security Best Practices:

  • Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits of your systems to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
  • Dependency Management: Use a dependency management tool to track and manage your project's dependencies. Regularly update your dependencies to the latest versions to ensure that you are protected against known vulnerabilities.
  • Least Privilege Principle: Apply the principle of least privilege to all users and processes. Grant only the minimum necessary permissions to perform their tasks.
  • Security Monitoring: Implement security monitoring to detect and respond to suspicious activity. Monitor your systems for signs of exploitation, such as unexpected code execution or unauthorized access to data.

Alternative Solutions:

  • Use a Different Data Format: If possible, consider using a different data format that does not rely on deserialization of untrusted data. For example, you could use a simpler data format like CSV or JSON. However, this may not be feasible if you require the features and performance of Parquet.
  • Implement a Custom Deserialization Mechanism: If you must use Parquet and Avro, consider implementing a custom deserialization mechanism that does not rely on Java's reflection mechanism. This can help to prevent attackers from injecting malicious code during deserialization. However, this requires significant development effort and expertise.

Timeline of Discovery and Disclosure

  • 2025-03-15: Vulnerability reported to the Apache Software Foundation by Keyi Li (Amazon).
  • 2025-04-01: Apache Parquet Java version 1.15.1 released, containing the fix for CVE-2025-30065. Public disclosure of the vulnerability.
  • 2025-04-01: CVE-2025-30065 assigned and published by the CVE Numbering Authority (CNA).
  • 2025-04-03: CISA ADP Vulnrichment updated.

References

This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure deserialization practices and the need for thorough input validation. By upgrading to version 1.15.1 and implementing the recommended mitigation strategies, users can significantly reduce their risk of exploitation.

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