A maximum severity remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability has been identified in Apache Parquet, affecting all versions up to and including 1.15.0. This flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-30065, has been assigned a CVSS v4 score of 10.0, indicating its critical nature. The issue arises from the deserialization of untrusted data, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, exfiltrate or manipulate sensitive data, disrupt services, or deploy malware such as ransomware.
Impact on Big Data Systems
Apache Parquet is a widely used columnar storage format optimized for efficient big data processing. Unlike traditional row-based storage formats like CSV, Parquet’s columnar structure makes it more space-efficient and faster for analytical workloads. It is extensively adopted in data analytics, cloud computing, and data engineering applications across platforms such as Hadoop, AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and various ETL tools.
Major technology firms, including Netflix, Uber, Airbnb, and LinkedIn, rely on Parquet for data storage and processing. Given its vast adoption, the discovered flaw poses a severe security risk to data pipelines, analytics platforms, and cloud services. Attackers could exploit the vulnerability by convincing users to import a specially crafted Parquet file, triggering remote code execution on vulnerable systems.
How the Vulnerability Works
The vulnerability exists in Apache Parquet’s parquet-avro module, which improperly handles schema parsing. Attackers can craft malicious Parquet files designed to exploit the deserialization flaw, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. If a compromised file is imported into a vulnerable system, the attacker could gain full control, allowing them to:
Exfiltrate or manipulate sensitive data stored in the Parquet format.
Inject malware or ransomware into enterprise systems.
Disrupt business operations by corrupting critical datasets.
Gain persistent access to enterprise networks for further exploitation.
Discovery and Disclosure
The vulnerability was responsibly disclosed by Amazon security researcher Keyi Li and made public on April 1, 2025. Security researchers at Endor Labs indicate that CVE-2025-30065 likely originated in Parquet version 1.8.0, though older releases may also be vulnerable. Organizations are advised to coordinate with vendors and development teams to determine their exposure and mitigate risks effectively.
Recommended Security Measures
To mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2025-30065, security experts strongly recommend upgrading to Apache Parquet version 1.15.1, which contains the necessary patch. Organizations unable to update immediately should adopt the following precautionary measures:
Avoid importing untrusted Parquet files from external or unknown sources.
Implement strict validation to verify the integrity of Parquet files before processing.
Enhance monitoring and logging on systems handling Parquet file imports to detect suspicious activity.
Isolate data ingestion systems to prevent potential lateral movement of threats.
Utilize sandboxing techniques to analyze incoming Parquet files in a controlled environment.
Potential Exploitation Scenarios
Although there are no reported cases of active exploitation, the vulnerability remains a high-risk concern due to the widespread use of Parquet in critical data environments. Cybercriminals could leverage this flaw in targeted cyberattacks, particularly against enterprises relying on big data analytics.
Some potential attack scenarios include:
Supply Chain Attacks: Threat actors may distribute compromised Parquet files through third-party data providers, leading to widespread infections across multiple organizations.
Insider Threats: Malicious insiders could inject specially crafted Parquet files into internal data processing pipelines to gain unauthorized access to systems.
Cloud-Based Attacks: Many cloud platforms automatically process Parquet files for storage and analytics, making them attractive targets for adversaries seeking to exploit vulnerabilities at scale.
State-Sponsored Espionage: Given the extensive use of Parquet in government, finance, and research institutions, sophisticated attackers may attempt to exploit this flaw for cyber espionage.
Best Practices for Long-Term Security
Organizations utilizing Parquet in their data lakes, ETL workflows, and cloud services must act swiftly to patch affected systems and strengthen their cybersecurity posture. Beyond upgrading to version 1.15.1, enterprises should adopt proactive security measures to safeguard against future risks:
Regular Security Audits – Conduct routine vulnerability assessments to detect weaknesses in data processing systems.
Access Control Policies – Restrict the ability of non-administrative users to import or execute Parquet files.
Data Integrity Checks – Implement cryptographic hashing to verify the authenticity of incoming Parquet files.
Threat Intelligence Monitoring – Subscribe to cybersecurity advisories to stay informed on potential exploitation attempts.
Network Segmentation – Isolate critical data processing environments to limit the impact of an exploit.
Conclusion
CVE-2025-30065 represents a significant security risk due to its high severity, ease of exploitation, and widespread use of Apache Parquet in enterprise data ecosystems. While no active attacks have been observed yet, the potential for exploitation is considerable, particularly in industries that rely on large-scale data processing.
The immediate priority for organizations is to upgrade to Apache Parquet 1.15.1. Those unable to update right away should implement strict file validation, monitoring, and sandboxing techniques to reduce the risk of malicious Parquet files being processed.
By prioritizing proactive security strategies, businesses can protect their data infrastructure from cyber threats and ensure the integrity of their big data ecosystems. Staying ahead of emerging vulnerabilities through continuous updates and security best practices will be critical in mitigating the risk posed by this and future threats.
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