Apache Kafka 4.1
Apache Kafka 4.1
Third-party support for the Apache Kafka 4.1: 24/7 engineers manage issues, remediate vulnerabilities, and help you maintain compliance — independent of the vendor contract.
24/7 engineers own your Apache Kafka 4.1 incidents end to end.
Mitigation and patch-around guidance when the vendor no longer ships fixes.
Controls evidence and documentation that keep auditors satisfied.
Specifications
- product
- apache-kafka
- release
- 4.1
- product Label
- Apache Kafka
- release Label
- 4.1
- codename
- lts
- latest Version
- 4.1.2
- release Date
- 2025-09-02
- maintained
- true
- source Url
- https://endoflife.date/apache-kafka
OEM vs. 3rd Party Support
See how third-party support compares to the vendor contract for Apache Kafka 4.1 — monitoring, break/fix, vulnerability work, operations and compliance, before and after EOSL.
| Feature | OEM Support | 3rd Party Support |
|---|---|---|
| Post-EOSL Support | ||
| Break/Fix Support | Until EOSL | |
| 24/7 Monitoring | ||
| Vulnerability Scanning & Remediation | ||
| Managed Operations | ||
| Procedure & Configuration Review | ||
| Compliance & Audit Documentation | Limited | |
| Discounted Migration to Other Platforms |
Why Choose 3rd Party Support for Apache Kafka 4.1?
Vulnerability Remediation
Scanning, mitigation and patch-around guidance for Apache Kafka 4.1 when the vendor no longer ships fixes.
Compliance Maintenance
Procedure review, controls evidence and the documentation auditors ask for — maintained continuously, not scrambled at audit time.
24/7 Expert Support
Engineers who know this release monitor, manage and fix issues around the clock — break/fix to managed operations.
Apache Kafka 4.1 Support: Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Apache Kafka 4.1 still supported?
Yes. The Apache Kafka 4.1 is currently supported by Apache Kafka, and third-party support is available as an alternative — issue management, vulnerability remediation, and compliance help independent of the vendor contract.
When is the Apache Kafka 4.1 end of service life (EOSL) date?
Apache Kafka lists the end of service life for the Apache Kafka 4.1 as Oct 15, 2027.
Can I keep using the Apache Kafka 4.1 after its EOSL date?
Yes. EOSL means Apache Kafka stops issuing patches and support — the software itself keeps running. Third-party support covers it from there: issue management, security vulnerability remediation, and the compliance documentation auditors ask for, for as long as you choose to run it.
How much does third-party support for the Apache Kafka 4.1 cost?
Typically 40-70% below the OEM maintenance renewal price. Exact pricing depends on quantity, service level and location — request a quote and we respond within 24 hours.
Known Vulnerabilities Affecting Apache Kafka 4.1
3 published CVEs affect the Apache Kafka 4.1, including 2 rated critical or high severity. Our 24/7 engineers help you assess exposure, prioritize fixes and apply available patches.
| CVE | Severity | CVSS | Published | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-33557 | CRITICAL | 9.1 | Apr 20, 2026 | A possible security vulnerability has been identified in Apache Kafka. By default, the broker property `sasl.oauthbearer.jwt.validator.class` is set to `org.apache.kafka.common.security.oauthbearer.DefaultJwtValidator`. It accepts any JWT token without validating its signature, issuer, or audience. An attacker can generate a JWT token from any issuer with the `preferred_username` set to any user, and the broker will accept it. We advise the Kafka users using kafka v4.1.0 or v4.1.1 to set the c |
| CVE-2026-35554 | HIGH | 8.7 | Apr 7, 2026 | A race condition in the Apache Kafka Java producer client’s buffer pool management can cause messages to be silently delivered to incorrect topics. When a produce batch expires due to delivery.timeout.ms while a network request containing that batch is still in flight, the batch’s ByteBuffer is prematurely deallocated and returned to the buffer pool. If a subsequent producer batch—potentially destined for a different topic—reuses this freed buffer before the original network request completes, |
| CVE-2026-41115 | MEDIUM | 4.3 | Jun 2, 2026 | An improper authorization vulnerability has been identified in Apache Kafka. The implementation of the CONSUMER_GROUP_DESCRIBE (69) API validates the DESCRIBE operation on the GROUP resource instead of the READ operation that documented in the official kafka documentation and the KIP-848. This discrepancy can result in misconfigured Access Control Lists (ACLs) and unintended security postures, like granting READ permission to users who should not be able to join/sync groups, or allowing users w |