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A new cybersecurity concern has emerged for organizations handling large datasets. F5 Labs has released a fully functional proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit tool targeting a recently disclosed critical vulnerability in Apache Parquet, tracked as CVE-2025-30065. The release of this tool brings heightened urgency to patch systems using this widely adopted data storage format.
Apache Parquet is a powerful, open-source columnar storage format extensively used in data analytics, particularly within big data ecosystems. However, a major flaw discovered in the parquet-avro module of Apache Parquet Java has now made headlines. Originally uncovered by Amazon security researcher Keyi Li, the flaw allows for remote code execution (RCE) under specific conditions, potentially enabling attackers to exploit systems by simply feeding them specially crafted Parquet files.
The seriousness of this vulnerability lies not just in the technical exploit but in the proof-of-concept tool now available on GitHub. The tool, designed by F5 Labs, confirms the real-world feasibility of exploiting the flaw and empowers administrators to test their infrastructures against this risk. Although exploitation is said to require specific conditions, its presence in systems that process unverified Parquet files could pose substantial risks.
F5 Labs emphasizes that while the vulnerability does not provide full RCE capabilities by default, it can be manipulated if exploited classes have unintended side effects. This opens a channel for cyber attackers to abuse systems, particularly those ingesting data from external or untrusted sources. Organizations are urged to upgrade Apache Parquet and apply security configurations to mitigate this threat effectively.
Breakdown of the Situation (30-Line Digest)
A critical vulnerability, CVE-2025-30065, has been publicly exposed in Apache Parquet.
Apache Parquet is a columnar storage format often used in data engineering and analytics.
The flaw exists in the parquet-avro module of Apache Parquet Java and allows class instantiation without restrictions.
If malicious Java classes are triggered during deserialization, attackers can manipulate the vulnerable system.
Discovered by Amazonâs Keyi Li and disclosed on April 1, 2025.
The vulnerability affects all Apache Parquet versions up to and including 1.15.0.
F5 Labs released a robust exploit tool on GitHub after finding existing PoCs ineffective.
Their “canary exploit” simulates an attack by triggering a harmless HTTP GET request.
This lets users test if their environment is vulnerable without risk.
Technically, itâs not a full-blown RCE; exploitation requires specific side effects in the Java class.
One example involves using javax.swing.JEditorKit to initiate outbound requests.
While the attack vector is narrow, some use casesâlike importing Parquet files from external sourcesâremain vulnerable.
F5 Labs urges caution and emphasizes proper security hygiene.
Organizations should upgrade to Apache Parquet version 15.1.1 or newer immediately.
Configuration of SERIALIZABLE_PACKAGES is essential to restrict deserialization paths.
The flaw relies on Avro data embedded within Parquet files.
Without mitigation, the risk of abuseâespecially in data ingestion pipelinesâremains high.
Exploits leveraging deserialization flaws can lead to serious breaches if mishandled.
This type of vulnerability can bypass traditional antivirus or endpoint protection.
The threat applies to any system that reads Parquet files, particularly in data lakes or analytics engines.
The exploitâs release accelerates the timeline for attackers to take advantage.
F5 Labs emphasized the need for proactive detection before attackers catch up.
Remote attackers could create malicious files specifically designed to exploit this flaw.
Threat actors often scan for exposed services once PoCs are released publicly.
Even limited RCE avenues can be chained with other vulnerabilities to cause damage.
This vulnerability highlights the broader risks of improper deserialization.
Organizations must treat data from external sources as potentially hostile.
Automated scanning tools should be updated to detect the flawed class instantiations.
Cyber hygiene should include logging and alerting on anomalous outbound requests.
This is a wake-up call to audit open-source data tools for outdated components.
What Undercode Say:
The public release of a functional exploit for CVE-2025-30065 shifts this vulnerability from a theoretical risk to a real-world threat. Apache Parquet, which serves as a core component of modern data processing pipelines, is now the focal point of security teams across industries relying on Hadoop, Spark, and other data frameworks.
The vulnerability lies in Java deserializationâan age-old problem that continues to haunt developers. Here, the issue stems from the lack of control over which classes the parquet-avro module is allowed to instantiate. Although Javaâs serialization architecture is efficient, it has a long history of being misused for malicious purposes when security boundaries arenât properly defined.
F5 Labs has taken a dual role: demonstrating the vulnerabilityâs practicality and encouraging defensive action. The exploit theyâve released is non-malicious by design, mimicking a benign HTTP GET request through JEditorKit, but itâs a clear signal that attackers can weaponize this with little effort.
One of the key concerns is the environments in which Parquet files are processed automaticallyâparticularly ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) systems, ML pipelines, or data ingestion engines receiving third-party inputs. These systems often lack runtime validation of file contents, creating a dangerous blind spot for deserialization-based exploits.
While F5 concludes that the practical likelihood of exploitation is relatively low, security professionals cannot afford to be complacent. If an attacker can find a class with desirable side effectsâsuch as invoking an internal API or leaking data externallyâthe system could become a launchpad for deeper attacks.
From a mitigation perspective, upgrading to version 15.1.1 is essential. However, patching alone wonât prevent similar issues in the future. Developers must enforce strict deserialization policies using configuration parameters like SERIALIZABLE_PACKAGES, which whitelist safe packages. This kind of white-listing practice is a best-in-class defense strategy for Java-based systems handling dynamic content.
Another takeaway is the importance of community-driven security efforts. Without F5 Labsâ analysis and publication of a working PoC, many admins might have underestimated or overlooked the issue entirely. This type of responsible disclosure underscores the value of collaboration in cybersecurity.
Moreover, it highlights a growing trend: vulnerabilities in data formats and supporting libraries are becoming high-value targets for adversaries. As the enterprise world leans more heavily into data-centric architectures, the attack surface widens to include components like Parquet, Avro, and others that werenât traditionally seen as exploitable.
In short, CVE-2025-30065 should not be viewed in isolation. It is part of a larger ecosystem of serialization vulnerabilities, open-source supply chain risks, and under-protected data processing pipelines. Organizations must take a layered approach, combining upgrades, configuration hardening, code audits, and external data vetting to remain secure.
Fact Checker Results:
Exploit Verified: The PoC released by F5 Labs is functional and confirmed.
Limited RCE Potential: The exploit does not provide unrestricted RCE but allows triggering class instantiation.
Mitigation Available: Upgrading Apache Parquet and enforcing strict serialization policies can neutralize the risk.
Prediction:
The release of a public exploit tool for CVE-2025-30065 will likely lead to opportunistic scanning by attackers over the next few weeks. While the exploit conditions are narrow, cybercriminals may seek to combine this vulnerability with others to breach unpatched systems. Expect to see increased focus on data pipeline components and Java deserialization flaws across enterprise security audits this year.
References:
Reported By: www.bleepingcomputer.com
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