#VU58976 Code Injection in Apache Log4j - CVE-2021-45046

Vulnerability identifier: #VU58976

Vulnerability risk: High

CVSSv4.0: 9.2 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:A/U:Amber]

CVE-ID: CVE-2021-45046

CWE-ID: CWE-94

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: Yes

Vulnerable software:
Apache Log4j
Universal components / Libraries / Libraries used by multiple products

Vendor: Apache Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to compromise the affected system.

The vulnerability exists due to incomplete patch in Apache Log4j 2.15.0 for a code injection vulnerability #VU58816 (CVE-2021-44228) in certain non-default configurations. A remote attacker with control over Thread Context Map (MDC) input data when the logging configuration uses a non-default Pattern Layout with either a Context Lookup (for example, $${ctx:loginId}) or a Thread Context Map pattern (%X, %mdc, or %MDC) can pass malicious data using a JNDI Lookup pattern and perform a denial of service (DoS) attack, exfiltrate data or execute arbitrary code.

Later discovery demonstrates a remote code execution on macOS but no other tested environments.

Mitigation
Install updates from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Apache Log4j: 2.0 - 2.15.0

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External links
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/12/14/4
https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/security.html
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-44228
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00646.html
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/LOG4J2-3221

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

Yes. This vulnerability is being exploited in the wild.