CVE-2021-28165 affects multiple versions of Eclipse Jetty, from 7.2.2 to 9.4.38, as well as versions 10.0.0.alpha0 to 10.0.1 and 11.0.0.alpha0 to 11.0.1. This vulnerability allows CPU usage to spike to 100% upon receiving a large invalid TLS frame, leading to significant performance degradation. With a CVSS score of 7.5, this vulnerability is classified as high severity, indicating a serious risk to affected systems.
Risk to organizations includes potential denial of service, as the vulnerability can cause systems to become unresponsive. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to exploit the affected services, leading to significant operational disruptions. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately, especially those utilizing affected versions in production environments.
As of now, there is no confirmed public exploit for CVE-2021-28165, although proof of concept (PoC) code has been found on GitHub. This indicates that while active exploitation may not be prevalent at present, the potential exists for attackers to develop methods to exploit the vulnerability if not mitigated.
Organizations are advised to conduct an immediate assessment of their systems to identify any installations of the affected Jetty versions and to apply necessary patches as they become available.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2021-28165 states that it allows CPU usage to reach 100% upon receiving a large invalid TLS frame in Eclipse Jetty versions ranging from 7.2.2 to 9.4.38, and 10.0.0.alpha0 to 10.0.1, as well as 11.0.0.alpha0 to 11.0.1. This vulnerability is classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration as CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption), CWE-551 (Missing Authentication for Critical Function), and CWE-755 (Improper Handling of Extra Data).
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.5, indicating a high severity level due to its potential impact on availability. The attack vector is classified as network-based, with low complexity and no privileges required for exploitation. User interaction is also not needed, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the handling of TLS frames within the affected versions of Jetty. When a large invalid TLS frame is received, the system's processing logic fails to manage the resource consumption effectively, leading to a spike in CPU usage. This vulnerability is exploitable via network access, which means that an attacker could trigger it remotely without needing to be authenticated.
In terms of attack complexity, it is rated as low, indicating that the exploitation of this vulnerability does not require advanced skills or resources. No user interaction is required, further increasing the risk factor. The availability impact is rated high, which means successful exploitation can lead to significant downtime for services relying on the affected versions of Jetty.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2021-28165 is substantial. Given that many organizations rely on Jetty for various web applications and services, the potential for a denial-of-service attack is a significant concern. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could cause unrecoverable disruptions, resulting in financial losses and damage to reputation.
The urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability is high, especially considering its availability impact and the potential for active exploitation. Organizations should immediately assess their deployments for affected versions, prioritize patching, and enhance monitoring to detect any anomalies that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of Eclipse Jetty include 7.2.2 to 9.4.38, 10.0.0.alpha0 to 10.0.1, and 11.0.0.alpha0 to 11.0.1. Organizations should consider all versions prior to vendor patch as vulnerable.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply patches and updates as they become available. It is essential to upgrade to versions that have addressed this vulnerability. If immediate patching is not feasible, consider implementing workarounds such as traffic filtering to block malformed TLS frames or restricting access to sensitive services.
For guidance on testing security measures, organizations can utilize penetration testing to ensure effective remediation against such vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring for unusual CPU usage patterns can help detect attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should keep track of log indicators for connections that result in high resource consumption, as well as behavioral anomalies that could signal an attack.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-28165 illustrates the necessity for organizations to regularly assess their software dependencies and ensure they are protected against known vulnerabilities. The pattern of vulnerabilities affecting network services underscores the importance of comprehensive security testing and proactive measures.
To enhance security posture, organizations should consider establishing a penetration testing methodology that incorporates continuous monitoring and regular assessments.
Furthermore, leveraging insights from threat intelligence can aid in understanding emerging trends and preparing for future vulnerabilities. Organizations can benefit from resources such as vulnerability management programs to strengthen their defenses against similar threats.
Finally, engaging in proactive security measures, such as red teaming, can provide organizations with a deeper understanding of their security posture and the potential implications of vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-28165.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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