Categories: Security Updates

CVE-2021-44228 vulnerability in Apache Log4j library

CVE-2021-44228 summary

Last week information security media reported the discovery of the critical vulnerability CVE-2021-44228 in the Apache Log4j library (CVSS severity level 10 out of 10). The threat, also named Log4Shell or LogJam, is a Remote Code Execution (RCE) class vulnerability. If an attacker manages to exploit it on a vulnerable server, they gain the ability to execute arbitrary code and potentially take full control of the system. A publicly published Proof-of-Concept, as well as the vulnerability’s easy exploitability, make this situation particularly dangerous.
Kaspersky is aware of PoCs in the public domain and of the possible exploitation of CVE-2021-44228 by cybercriminals. Our products protect against attacks leveraging the vulnerability, including PoC usage. Possible detection names are:

UMIDS:Intrusion.Generic.CVE-2021-44228.*
PDM:Exploit.Win32.Generic

KATA verdicts:

Exploit.CVE-2021-44228.TCP.C&C
Exploit.CVE-2021-44228.HTTP.C&C
Exploit.CVE-2021-44228.UDP.C&C

Geography of CVE-2021-44228 scan and exploitation attempts, December 2021

CVE-2021-44228 technical details

The remote code execution vulnerability CVE-2021-44228 was found in the Apache Log4j library, a part of the Apache Logging Project. If a product uses a vulnerable version of this library with the JNDI module for logging purposes, there is a high possibility that this vulnerability can be exploited. Almost all versions of Log4j are vulnerable, from 2.0-beta9 to 2.14.1.
Log4j includes a Lookup mechanism that could be used to make requests through special syntax in a format string. For example, it can be used to request various parameters such as the version of the Java environment via ${java:version}, etc. Then, by specifying the jndi key in the string, the Lookup mechanism uses JNDI API. By default, all requests are done using the prefix java:comp/env/; however, the authors implemented the option of using a custom prefix by means of a colon symbol in the key. This is where the vulnerability lies: if jndi:ldap:// is used as the key, the request goes to the specified LDAP server. Other communication protocols, such as LDAPS, DNS and RMI, can also be used.
Thus, an attacker-controlled remote server could return some object to a vulnerable server, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution in the system or to leakage of confidential data. All an attacker should do is send a special string through the mechanism that writes this string to a log file and is therefore handled by the Log4j library. This can be done with simple HTTP requests, for example, ones sent through web forms, data fields, etc, or with any other kind of interactions that use server-side logging.

Mitigations for CVE-2021-44228

Install the most recent version of the library, 2.15.0. if possible. You can download it on the project page. If using the library in a third-party product, you need to monitor and install timely updates from the software provider.
Follow the Apache Log4j project guidelines.
Use a security solution with exploit prevention, vulnerability and patch management components, such as Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business. Our Automatic Exploit Prevention component monitors suspicious actions by applications and blocks the execution of malicious files.
Use solutions like Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response and Kaspersky Managed Detection and Response, which identify and stop attacks in the early stages.