Summary
Improper Input Validation and Injection in Apache Log4j2
Apache Log4j2 versions 2.0-beta7 through 2.17.0 (excluding security fix releases 2.3.2 and 2.12.4) are vulnerable to an attack where an attacker with permission to modify the logging configuration file can construct a malicious configuration using a JDBC Appender with a data source referencing a JNDI URI which can execute remote code. This issue is fixed by limiting JNDI data source names to the java protocol in Log4j2 versions 2.17.1, 2.12.4, and 2.3.2.
Affected packages
Only the org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-core package is directly affected by this vulnerability. The org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-api should be kept at the same version as the org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-core package to ensure compatability if in use.
This issue does not impact default configurations of Log4j2 and requires an attacker to have control over the Log4j2 configuration, which reduces the likelihood of being exploited.
Impact
The application does not adequately validate input before processing it, allowing unexpected values to reach sensitive code paths. Typical impact: varies by context: data corruption, logic bypass, or denial of service.
CVE-2021-44832 has a CVSS score of 6.6 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, high 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 (2.3.2, 2.12.4, 2.17.1, 1.9.2, 1.10.9, 1.11.13, 2.0.14); 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.
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org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-core to 2.3.2 or later; org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-core to 2.12.4 or later; org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-core to 2.17.1 or later; org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2 to 1.9.2 or later; org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2 to 1.10.9 or later; org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2 to 1.11.13 or later; org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2 to 2.0.14 or later
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2021-44832? CVE-2021-44832 is a medium-severity improper input validation vulnerability in org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-core (maven), affecting versions >= 2.0-beta7, < 2.3.2. It is fixed in 2.3.2, 2.12.4, 2.17.1, 1.9.2, 1.10.9, 1.11.13, 2.0.14. The application does not adequately validate input before processing it, allowing unexpected values to reach sensitive code paths.
- How severe is CVE-2021-44832? CVE-2021-44832 has a CVSS score of 6.6 (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-2021-44832?
org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-core(maven) (versions >= 2.0-beta7, < 2.3.2)org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2(maven) (versions >= 1.8.0, < 1.9.2)
- Is there a fix for CVE-2021-44832? Yes. CVE-2021-44832 is fixed in 2.3.2, 2.12.4, 2.17.1, 1.9.2, 1.10.9, 1.11.13, 2.0.14. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2021-44832 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2021-44832 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-2021-44832 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-2021-44832?
- Upgrade
org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-coreto 2.3.2 or later - Upgrade
org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-coreto 2.12.4 or later - Upgrade
org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-coreto 2.17.1 or later - Upgrade
org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2to 1.9.2 or later - Upgrade
org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2to 1.10.9 or later - Upgrade
org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2to 1.11.13 or later - Upgrade
org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2to 2.0.14 or later
- Upgrade