CVE-2021-37404

Apache Hadoop heap overflow before v2.10.2, v3.2.3, v3.3.2

There is a potential heap buffer overflow in Apache Hadoop libhdfs native code. Opening a file path provided by user without validation may result in a denial of service or arbitrary code execution. Users should upgrade to Apache Hadoop 2.10.2, 3.2.3, 3.3.2 or higher.

A write operation targets a memory location beyond the intended buffer boundary. Typical impact: memory corruption, crash, or arbitrary code execution.

CVE-2021-37404 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (3.3.2, 3.2.3, 2.10.2); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

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1. What is CVE-2021-37404? CVE-2021-37404 is a critical-severity out-of-bounds write vulnerability in org.apache.hadoop:hadoop-common (maven), affecting versions >= 3.3.0, < 3.3.2. It is fixed in 3.3.2, 3.2.3, 2.10.2. A write operation targets a memory location beyond the intended buffer boundary.
2. How severe is CVE-2021-37404? CVE-2021-37404 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which versions of org.apache.hadoop:hadoop-common are affected by CVE-2021-37404? org.apache.hadoop:hadoop-common (maven) versions >= 3.3.0, < 3.3.2 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2021-37404? Yes. CVE-2021-37404 is fixed in 3.3.2, 3.2.3, 2.10.2. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is CVE-2021-37404 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2021-37404 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2021-37404 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix CVE-2021-37404?
   • Upgrade org.apache.hadoop:hadoop-common to 3.3.2 or later
   • Upgrade org.apache.hadoop:hadoop-common to 3.2.3 or later
   • Upgrade org.apache.hadoop:hadoop-common to 2.10.2 or later

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