Apache Log4j 1.2 JMSAppender Remote Code Execution (CVE-2021-4104) - Nessus

High Plugin ID: 156103

This page contains detailed information about the Apache Log4j 1.2 JMSAppender Remote Code Execution (CVE-2021-4104) Nessus plugin including available exploits and PoCs found on GitHub, in Metasploit or Exploit-DB for verifying of this vulnerability.

Table Of Contents

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Plugin Overview
Vulnerability Information

Synopsis
Description
Solution

Public Exploits
Risk Information
Plugin Source
How to Run
References
Version

Plugin Overview

ID: 156103
Name: Apache Log4j 1.2 JMSAppender Remote Code Execution (CVE-2021-4104)
Filename: apache_log4j_1_2.nasl
Vulnerability Published: 2021-12-14
This Plugin Published: 2021-12-15
Last Modification Time: 2022-04-11
Plugin Version: 1.9
Plugin Type: local
Plugin Family: Misc.
Dependencies: apache_log4j_nix_installed.nbin, apache_log4j_win_installed.nbin
Required KB Items [?]: installed_sw/Apache Log4j

Vulnerability Information

Severity: High
Vulnerability Published: 2021-12-14
Patch Published: 2021-12-14
CVE [?]: CVE-2021-4104
CPE [?]: cpe:/a:apache:log4j

Synopsis

A package installed on the remote host is affected by a remote code execution vulnerability.

Description

The version of Apache Log4j on the remote host is 1.2. It is, therefore, affected by a remote code execution vulnerability when specifically configured to use JMSAppender.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

Solution

Upgrade to Apache Log4j version 2.16.0 or later since 1.x is end of life.

Upgrading to the latest versions for Apache Log4j is highly recommended as intermediate versions / patches have known high severity vulnerabilities and the vendor is updating their advisories often as new research and knowledge about the impact of Log4j is discovered. Refer to https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/security.html for the latest versions.

Public Exploits

Target Network Port(s): N/A
Target Asset(s): N/A
Exploit Available: True (GitHub)
Exploit Ease: Exploits (PoCs) are available

Here's the list of publicly known exploits and PoCs for verifying the Apache Log4j 1.2 JMSAppender Remote Code Execution (CVE-2021-4104) vulnerability:

GitHub: https://github.com/Diablo5G/Certification-Prep
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/GGongnanE/TodayILearned
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/HackJava/Log4j2
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/HynekPetrak/log4shell-finder
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/NiftyBank/java-app
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/PAXSTORE/paxstore-openapi-java-sdk
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/Qualys/log4jscanwin
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/TheInterception/Log4JPentester
[CVE-2021-4104: Automated pentesting tools and vulnerability fixes for Log4Shell CVE-2021-44228 / ...]
GitHub: https://github.com/TheInterception/Log4J-Simulation-Tool
[CVE-2021-4104: Vulerability analysis, patch management and exploitation tool CVE-2021-44228 / ...]
GitHub: https://github.com/apache/logging-log4j1
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/cckuailong/log4shell_1.x
[CVE-2021-4104: Log4j 1.x RCE Poc -- CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/davejwilson/azure-spark-pools-log4j
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/logpresso/CVE-2021-44228-Scanner
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/ltslog/ltslog
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/open-AIMS/log4j
[CVE-2021-4104: Log4j version 1.2.17 without the offending class responsible for CVE-2021-4104.]
GitHub: https://github.com/srhercules/log4j_mass_scanner
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/syslog-ng/syslog-ng
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/thl-cmk/CVE-log4j-check_mk-plugin
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/whitesource-ps/ws-bulk-report-generator
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/whitesource/log4j-detect-distribution
[CVE-2021-4104]
GitHub: https://github.com/Schnitker/log4j-min
[CVE-2021-4104: Log4j 1.2 project, stripped of the additional appenders and CVEs that cause problems ...]

Before running any exploit against any system, make sure you are authorized by the owner of the target system(s) to perform such activity. In any other case, this would be considered as an illegal activity.

WARNING: Beware of using unverified exploits from sources such as GitHub or Exploit-DB. These exploits and PoCs could contain malware. For more information, see how to use exploits safely.

Risk Information

CVSS Score Source [?]: CVE-2021-4104
CVSS V2 Vector: AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P/E:U/RL:OF/RC:C

CVSS Base Score:	6.0 (Medium)
Impact Subscore:	6.4
Exploitability Subscore:	6.8
CVSS Temporal Score:	4.4 (Medium)
CVSS Environmental Score:	NA (None)
Modified Impact Subscore:	NA
Overall CVSS Score:	4.4 (Medium)

CVSS V3 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

CVSS Base Score:	7.5 (High)
Impact Subscore:	5.9
Exploitability Subscore:	1.6
CVSS Temporal Score:	6.5 (Medium)
CVSS Environmental Score:	NA (None)
Modified Impact Subscore:	NA
Overall CVSS Score:	6.5 (Medium)

STIG Severity [?]: I
STIG Risk Rating: High

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Plugin Source

#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 70300
##
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
##

include('deprecated_nasl_level.inc');
include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(156103);
  script_version("1.9");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2022/04/11");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2021-4104");
  script_xref(name:"IAVA", value:"2021-A-0573");
  script_xref(name:"IAVA", value:"0001-A-0650");

  script_name(english:"Apache Log4j 1.2 JMSAppender Remote Code Execution (CVE-2021-4104)");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"A package installed on the remote host is affected by a remote code execution vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The version of Apache Log4j on the remote host is 1.2. It is, therefore, affected by a remote code execution
vulnerability when specifically configured to use JMSAppender.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version
number.");
  # https://github.com/apache/logging-log4j2/pull/608#issuecomment-990494126
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?33485eac");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-4104");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to Apache Log4j version 2.16.0 or later since 1.x is end of life.

Upgrading to the latest versions for Apache Log4j is highly recommended as intermediate 
versions / patches have known high severity vulnerabilities and the vendor is updating 
their advisories often as new research and knowledge about the impact of Log4j is 
discovered. Refer to https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/security.html for the latest 
versions.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"all");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2021-4104");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2021/12/14");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2021/12/14");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2021/12/15");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:apache:log4j");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"stig_severity", value:"I");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"thorough_tests", value:"true");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2021-2022 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("apache_log4j_nix_installed.nbin", "apache_log4j_win_installed.nbin");
  script_require_keys("installed_sw/Apache Log4j");

  exit(0);
}

include('vcf.inc');

var app = 'Apache Log4j';

var app_info = vcf::get_app_info(app:app);

if (app_info['JMSAppender.class association'] == "Not Found")
  audit(AUDIT_OS_CONF_NOT_VULN, app, app_info.version);

var constraints = [{ 'min_version':'1.2.0', 'max_version':'1.2.17', 'fixed_version':'2.16.0' }];

vcf::check_version_and_report(
  app_info:app_info,
  constraints:constraints,
  severity:SECURITY_WARNING
);

The latest version of this script can be found in these locations depending on your platform:

Linux / Unix:
/opt/nessus/lib/nessus/plugins/apache_log4j_1_2.nasl
Windows:
C:\ProgramData\Tenable\Nessus\nessus\plugins\apache_log4j_1_2.nasl
Mac OS X:
/Library/Nessus/run/lib/nessus/plugins/apache_log4j_1_2.nasl

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How to Run

Here is how to run the Apache Log4j 1.2 JMSAppender Remote Code Execution (CVE-2021-4104) as a standalone plugin via the Nessus web user interface (https://localhost:8834/):

Click to start a New Scan.
Select Advanced Scan.
Navigate to the Plugins tab.
On the top right corner click to Disable All plugins.
On the left side table select Misc. plugin family.
On the right side table select Apache Log4j 1.2 JMSAppender Remote Code Execution (CVE-2021-4104) plugin ID 156103.
Specify the target on the Settings tab and click to Save the scan.
Run the scan.

Here are a few examples of how to run the plugin in the command line. Note that the examples below demonstrate the usage on the Linux / Unix platform.

Basic usage:

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl apache_log4j_1_2.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with audit trail message on the console:

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -a apache_log4j_1_2.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with trace script execution written to the console (useful for debugging):

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -T - apache_log4j_1_2.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with using a state file for the target and updating it (useful for running multiple plugins on the target):

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -K /tmp/state apache_log4j_1_2.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

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References

IAVA | Information Assurance Vulnerability Alert:

0001-A-0650, 2021-A-0573

See also:

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156169 - SUSE SLES15 Security Update : log4j (SUSE-SU-2021:4111-1)
156172 - SUSE SLED15 / SLES15 Security Update : log4j12 (SUSE-SU-2021:4112-1)
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Version

This page has been produced using Nessus Professional 10.1.2 (#68) LINUX, Plugin set 202205072148.
Plugin file apache_log4j_1_2.nasl version 1.9. For more plugins, visit the Nessus Plugin Library.

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Apache Log4j 1.2 JMSAppender Remote Code Execution (CVE-2021-4104) - Nessus

Plugin Overview

Vulnerability Information

Synopsis

Description

Solution

Public Exploits

Risk Information

Plugin Source

How to Run

References

Version

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