Summary
Broken encryption in EdgeX Foundry
Broken encryption in app-functions-sdk “AES” transform in EdgeX Foundry releases prior to Jakarta allows attackers to decrypt messages via unspecified vectors.
Detailed Description
The app-functions-sdk exports an “aes” transform that user scripts can optionally call to encrypt data in the processing pipeline. No decrypt function is provided. Encryption is not enabled by default, but if used, the level of protection may be less than the user may expects due to a broken implementation in https://github.com/edgexfoundry/app-functions-sdk-go/blob/v1.0.0/pkg/transforms/encryption.go
Version v2.1.0 (EdgeX Foundry Jakarta release and later) of app-functions-sdk-go/v2 deprecates the “aes” transform and provides an improved “aes256” transform in its place. The broken implementation will remain in a deprecated state until it is removed in the next EdgeX major release to avoid breakage of existing software that depends on the broken implementation.
Vulnerable go modules
- github.com/edgexfoundry/app-functions-sdk-go < v2.1.0
- github.com/edgexfoundry/app-functions-sdk-go/v2 < v2.1.0
- github.com/edgexfoundry/app-service-configurable < v2.1.0
Vulnerable containers
- https://hub.docker.com/r/edgexfoundry/app-service-configurable >= 2.0.0 < v2.1.0
- https://hub.docker.com/r/edgexfoundry/app-service-configurable-arm64 >= 2.0.0 < 2.1.0
- https://hub.docker.com/r/edgexfoundry/docker-app-service-configurable < 2.0.0
- https://hub.docker.com/r/edgexfoundry/docker-app-service-configurable-arm64 < 2.0.0
Vulnerable Snaps
- https://snapcraft.io/edgex-app-service-configurable >= 2.0.0 < 2.1.0
Patched go modules
- github.com/edgexfoundry/app-functions-sdk-go/v2 v2.1.0
- github.com/edgexfoundry/app-service-configurable v2.1.0
Modification of user scripts is necessary for full remediation.
Patched containers
- https://hub.docker.com/r/edgexfoundry/app-service-configurable:>=2.1.0
- https://hub.docker.com/r/edgexfoundry/app-service-configurable-arm64:>=2.1.0
Modification of user scripts is necessary for full remediation.
Patched Snaps
Modification of user scripts is necessary for full remediation.
Workarounds
If unable to upgrade, change the processing pipeline to use an HTTPS (TLS 1.3) endpoint to export and skip encryption.
References
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Contact us in the Slack #security channel
- Open an issue in edgex-go
- Email us at [email protected]
Impact
As the broken transform is a library function that is not invoked by default, users who do not use the AES transform in their processing pipelines are unaffected. Those that are affected are urged to upgrade to the Jakarta EdgeX release and modify processing pipelines to use the new "aes256" transform.
The application uses a cryptographic algorithm known to have weaknesses, such as MD5, SHA-1, or DES. Typical impact: compromised confidentiality or integrity of protected data.
CVE-2021-41278 has a CVSS score of 5.4 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, low privileges required, and user interaction required. 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 (2.1.0); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
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. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Already deployed Kodem?
See it in your environmentNew to Kodem? Get a demo →Remediation advice
Upgrade to 2.1.0 version of app-functions-sdk-go/v2, app-service-configurable, and related docker containers shown below and modify user scripts to use the new "aes256" transform in place of the existing "aes" transform.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2021-41278? CVE-2021-41278 is a medium-severity use of a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm vulnerability in github.com/edgexfoundry/app-functions-sdk-go/v2 (go), affecting versions < 2.1.0. It is fixed in 2.1.0. The application uses a cryptographic algorithm known to have weaknesses, such as MD5, SHA-1, or DES.
- How severe is CVE-2021-41278? CVE-2021-41278 has a CVSS score of 5.4 (Medium). 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.
- Which packages are affected by CVE-2021-41278?
github.com/edgexfoundry/app-functions-sdk-go/v2(go) (versions < 2.1.0)github.com/edgexfoundry/app-functions-sdk-go(go) (versions < 2.1.0)github.com/edgexfoundry/app-service-configurable(go) (versions < 2.1.0)
- Is there a fix for CVE-2021-41278? Yes. CVE-2021-41278 is fixed in 2.1.0. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2021-41278 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2021-41278 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
- What actually determines whether CVE-2021-41278 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.
- How do I fix CVE-2021-41278?
- Upgrade
github.com/edgexfoundry/app-functions-sdk-go/v2to 2.1.0 or later - Upgrade
github.com/edgexfoundry/app-service-configurableto 2.1.0 or later
- Upgrade