CVE-2021-35515 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Apache Commons Compress library, specifically the sevenz package. When processing a specially crafted 7Z archive, the handling of codecs can lead to an infinite loop, which ultimately results in a denial of service condition. This vulnerability poses a significant risk to applications relying on this library, making it crucial for organizations to address it promptly.
The CVSS score of 7.5 indicates a high severity level, highlighting the potential for significant impact on the availability of affected services. The attack vector is network-based, requiring no authentication or user interaction, which increases the vulnerability's exploitable nature. Organizations using affected systems should prioritize remediation due to the high availability impact, as failure to address this could result in service interruptions.
Currently, there are no known exploits in the wild for CVE-2021-35515, but the nature of the vulnerability means that it is essential for security teams to remain vigilant. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate any potential risks associated with this vulnerability.
In summary, CVE-2021-35515 represents a severe risk for any organization utilizing the Apache Commons Compress library. Immediate action is required to ensure that systems are updated and secure from potential denial of service attacks.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit the infinite loop condition when handling specially crafted 7Z files, leveraging the weakness to create a denial of service scenario. The official description states, "When reading a specially crafted 7Z archive, the construction of the list of codecs that decompress an entry can result in an infinite loop." The high CVSS score of 7.5 confirms the critical nature of this vulnerability, emphasizing its potential impact on availability.
The affected versions include Apache Commons Compress versions 1.6 through 1.20. The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-834 and CWE-835, indicating issues related to infinite loops and resource exhaustion.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-35515 lies in the improper handling of certain inputs when constructing the list of codecs necessary for decompressing entries within 7Z archives. This vulnerability is classified as having a low attack complexity, as it does not require any special privileges or user interaction; an attacker can initiate the denial of service attack simply by sending a malicious 7Z file over the network.
The confidentiality impact is rated as none, and the integrity impact is also none, as the primary concern with this vulnerability is its availability impact, which is rated as high. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can cause significant disruption, potentially affecting the availability of services reliant on the Apache Commons Compress library.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The risk to organizations includes service disruption due to denial of service attacks exploiting this vulnerability. Given the wide deployment of Apache Commons Compress across various applications, the blast radius for potential exploitation is substantial. As organizations increasingly rely on automated processes and online services, the urgency of addressing this vulnerability cannot be overstated. With a CVSS score of 7.5, organizations should schedule remediation in their priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Apache Commons Compress versions 1.6 through 1.20 are affected by this vulnerability. Organizations using these versions should take immediate action to update to the latest stable release.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching by upgrading to a version of Apache Commons Compress that is not affected by this vulnerability. If an immediate upgrade is not feasible, consider employing network controls to restrict access to vulnerable services. Continuous monitoring and security assessments can also help in identifying potential exploitation attempts.
For further assistance with security testing and to validate patches, organizations can engage in penetration testing services to ensure effective remediation.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of CVE-2021-35515, organizations should monitor logs for unusual patterns or spikes in resource usage. Additionally, keep an eye out for any anomalies associated with the handling of 7Z archives within affected applications.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The significance of CVE-2021-35515 lies in its demonstration of how vulnerabilities in commonly used libraries can lead to substantial risks. Security teams must remain vigilant about such vulnerabilities, especially those that can lead to denial of service attacks.
Organizations should integrate vulnerability management into their development cycles and ensure that all dependencies are regularly reviewed and updated. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive security measures and the need for continuous security assessments.
For more insights on vulnerability management and security best practices, organizations can refer to the following resources: vulnerability management program design, penetration testing methodology, and security testing best practices to enhance overall security posture.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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