Apache Log4j 2.x < 2.17.0 DoS - Nessus

Medium Plugin ID: 156183

This page contains detailed information about the Apache Log4j 2.x < 2.17.0 DoS 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: 156183
Name: Apache Log4j 2.x < 2.17.0 DoS
Filename: apache_log4j_2_17_0.nasl
Vulnerability Published: 2021-12-18
This Plugin Published: 2021-12-18
Last Modification Time: 2022-04-11
Plugin Version: 1.11
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: Medium
Vulnerability Published: 2021-12-18
Patch Published: 2021-12-18
CVE [?]: CVE-2021-45105
CPE [?]: cpe:/a:apache:log4j
Exploited by Malware: True

Synopsis

A package installed on the remote host is affected by a denial of service vulnerability.

Description

The version of Apache Log4j on the remote host is 2.x < 2.3.1 / 2.13.2 / 2.17.0. It is, therefore, affected by a denial of service vulnerability. Apache Log4j2 versions 2.0-alpha1 through 2.16.0 did not protect from uncontrolled recursion from self-referential lookups. When the logging configuration uses a non-default Pattern Layout with a Context Lookup (for example, $${ctx:loginId}), attackers with control over Thread Context Map (MDC) input data can craft malicious input data that contains a recursive lookup, resulting in a StackOverflowError that will terminate the process.

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 2.3.1, 2.12.3, 2.17.0 or later, or apply the vendor mitigation.

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 are available

Here's the list of publicly known exploits and PoCs for verifying the Apache Log4j 2.x < 2.17.0 DoS vulnerability:

GitHub: https://github.com/AlvaroMartinezQ/clickandbuy
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/Cosmo-Tech/azure-digital-twins-simulator-connector
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/CptOfEvilMinions/ChooseYourSIEMAdventure
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/HackJava/Log4j2
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/HynekPetrak/log4shell-finder
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/NiftyBank/java-app
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/Qualys/log4jscanwin
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/binkley/modern-java-practices
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/cckuailong/Log4j_dos_CVE-2021-45105
[CVE-2021-45105: Log4j_dos_CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/davejwilson/azure-spark-pools-log4j
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/dileepdkumar/https-github.com-dileepdkumar-https-github.com-pravin-pp-log4j2-CVE-2021-45105
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/dileepdkumar/https-github.com-dileepdkumar-https-github.com-pravin-pp-log4j2-CVE-2021-45105-v
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/dileepdkumar/https-github.com-pravin-pp-log4j2-CVE-2021-45105
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/dileepdkumar/https-github.com-pravin-pp-log4j2-CVE-2021-45105-1
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/dtact/divd-2021-00038--log4j-scanner
[CVE-2021-45105: Scan systems and docker images for potential log4j vulnerabilities. Able to patch ...]
GitHub: https://github.com/hackername0102/log4j
[CVE-2021-45105: POC of CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/imTigger/webapp-hardware-bridge
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/jacobalberty/unifi-docker
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/logpresso/CVE-2021-44228-Scanner
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/mergebase/csv-compare
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/mosaic-hgw/jMeter
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/name/log4j
[CVE-2021-45105: Discover Log4Shell vulnerability [CVE-2021-45105]]
GitHub: https://github.com/open-source-agenda/new-open-source-projects
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/pravin-pp/log4j2-CVE-2021-45105
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/sakuraji-labs/log4j-remediation
[CVE-2021-45105: Discover and remediate Log4Shell vulnerability [CVE-2021-45105]]
GitHub: https://github.com/sakuraji-labs/sakuraji_log4j
[CVE-2021-45105: Discover and remediate Log4Shell vulnerability [CVE-2021-45105]]
GitHub: https://github.com/srhercules/log4j_mass_scanner
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/tcoliver/IBM-SPSS-log4j-fixes
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/tejas-nagchandi/CVE-2021-45105
[CVE-2021-45105: Replicating CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/thl-cmk/CVE-log4j-check_mk-plugin
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/tmax-cloud/install-EFK
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/watson-developer-cloud/assistant-with-discovery
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/whitesource/log4j-detect-distribution
[CVE-2021-45105]
GitHub: https://github.com/iAmSOScArEd/log4j2_dos_exploit
[CVE-2021-45105: Log4j2 dos exploit,CVE-2021-45105 exploit,Denial of Service poc]

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-2021-45105
CVSS V2 Vector: AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P/E:H/RL:OF/RC:C

CVSS Base Score:	4.3 (Medium)
Impact Subscore:	2.9
Exploitability Subscore:	8.6
CVSS Temporal Score:	3.7 (Low)
CVSS Environmental Score:	NA (None)
Modified Impact Subscore:	NA
Overall CVSS Score:	3.7 (Low)

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

CVSS Base Score:	5.9 (Medium)
Impact Subscore:	3.6
Exploitability Subscore:	2.2
CVSS Temporal Score:	5.7 (Medium)
CVSS Environmental Score:	NA (None)
Modified Impact Subscore:	NA
Overall CVSS Score:	5.7 (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(156183);
  script_version("1.11");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2022/04/11");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2021-45105");
  script_xref(name:"IAVA", value:"2021-A-0573");
  script_xref(name:"IAVA", value:"2021-A-0598");
  script_xref(name:"IAVA", value:"0001-A-0650");

  script_name(english:"Apache Log4j 2.x < 2.17.0 DoS");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"A package installed on the remote host is affected by a denial of service vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The version of Apache Log4j on the remote host is 2.x < 2.3.1 / 2.13.2 / 2.17.0. It is, therefore, affected by 
a denial of service vulnerability. Apache Log4j2 versions 2.0-alpha1 through 2.16.0 did not protect from uncontrolled 
recursion from self-referential lookups. When the logging configuration uses a non-default Pattern Layout with a 
Context Lookup (for example, $${ctx:loginId}), attackers with control over Thread Context Map (MDC) input data can 
craft malicious input data that contains a recursive lookup, resulting in a StackOverflowError that will terminate 
the process.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version
number.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-p6xc-xr62-6r2g");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/security.html");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to Apache Log4j version 2.3.1, 2.12.3, 2.17.0 or later, or apply the vendor mitigation.

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:N/C:N/I:N/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:H/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:H/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2021-45105");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploited_by_malware", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2021/12/18");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2021/12/18");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2021/12/18");

  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);

var constraints = [
  {'min_version':'2.0', 'fixed_version':'2.3.1', 'fixed_display': '2.3.1 / 2.17.0'},
  {'min_version':'2.4', 'fixed_version':'2.12.3', 'fixed_display': '2.12.3 / 2.17.0'},
  {'min_version':'2.13', 'fixed_version':'2.17.0'}
];

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_2_17_0.nasl
Windows:
C:\ProgramData\Tenable\Nessus\nessus\plugins\apache_log4j_2_17_0.nasl
Mac OS X:
/Library/Nessus/run/lib/nessus/plugins/apache_log4j_2_17_0.nasl

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How to Run

Here is how to run the Apache Log4j 2.x < 2.17.0 DoS 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 2.x < 2.17.0 DoS plugin ID 156183.
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_2_17_0.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with audit trail message on the console:

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -a apache_log4j_2_17_0.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_2_17_0.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_2_17_0.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

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References

IAVA | Information Assurance Vulnerability Alert:

0001-A-0650, 2021-A-0573, 2021-A-0598

See also:

Similar and related Nessus plugins:

156263 - Amazon Linux 2 : aws-kinesis-agent (ALAS-2021-1733)
156184 - Apache Log4j 2.x < 2.17.0 DoS (deprecated)
156396 - Debian DLA-2852-1 : apache-log4j2 - LTS security update
156189 - Debian DSA-5024-1 : apache-log4j2 - security update
156323 - FreeBSD : OpenSearch -- Log4Shell (d1be3d73-6737-11ec-9eea-589cfc007716)
156270 - openSUSE 15 Security Update : log4j (openSUSE-SU-2021:1605-1)
156219 - openSUSE 15 Security Update : log4j (openSUSE-SU-2021:4118-1)
156855 - Oracle WebCenter Portal DoS (Jan 2022 CPU)
159653 - RHEL 7 : Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7.4.4 (RHSA-2022:1296)
159664 - RHEL 8 : Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7.4.4 (RHSA-2022:1297)
160032 - RHEL 7 : Red Hat Single Sign-On 7.5.2 security update on RHEL 7 (Low) (RHSA-2022:1462)
160055 - RHEL 8 : Red Hat Single Sign-On 7.5.2 security update on RHEL 8 (Low) (RHSA-2022:1463)
156190 - Ubuntu 20.04 LTS / 21.04 : Apache Log4j 2 vulnerability (USN-5203-1)
159914 - Apache APISIX 1.2 <= 1.5 Information Disclosure
160203 - Apache APISIX < 2.10.4 / 2.11.x < 2.12.1 RCE
160299 - Apache APISIX Dashboard < 2.10.1 Authentication Bypass
156103 - Apache Log4j 1.2 JMSAppender Remote Code Execution (CVE-2021-4104)
156860 - Apache Log4j 1.x Multiple Vulnerabilities
136424 - Apache Log4j < 2.13.2 Improper Certificate Verification
155999 - Apache Log4j < 2.15.0 Remote Code Execution (Nix)
156057 - Apache Log4j 2.x < 2.16.0 RCE
156327 - Apache Log4j 2.0 < 2.3.2 / 2.4 < 2.12.4 / 2.13 < 2.17.1 RCE
156162 - Apache Log4Shell RCE detection via callback correlation (Direct Check Telnet)
156056 - Apache Log4Shell RCE detection via Raw Socket Logging (Direct Check)
156002 - Apache Log4j < 2.15.0 Remote Code Execution (Windows)
156158 - Apache Log4Shell RCE detection via callback correlation (Direct Check IMAP)
156669 - Apache Log4Shell RCE detection via callback correlation (Direct Check MSRPC)
156197 - Apache Log4Shell RCE detection via callback correlation (Direct Check NetBIOS)
156157 - Apache Log4Shell RCE detection via callback correlation (Direct Check POP3)
156256 - Apache Log4Shell RCE detection via callback correlation (Direct Check SNMP)
156166 - Apache Log4Shell RCE detection via callback correlation (Direct Check SSH)
156375 - Apache Log4Shell RCE detection via callback correlation (Direct Check UPnP)
159764 - Apache Shiro < 1.2.5 Default Cipher Key (CVE-2016-4437)
122487 - Apache Storm < 1.1.3 / 1.2.x < 1.2.2 arbitrary file write vulnerability
125634 - Apache ZooKeeper 3.4.0 < 3.4.10 / 3.5.x < 3.5.3 Multiple Vulnerabilities

Version

This page has been produced using Nessus Professional 10.1.2 (#68) LINUX, Plugin set 202205072148.
Plugin file apache_log4j_2_17_0.nasl version 1.11. For more plugins, visit the Nessus Plugin Library.

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Apache Log4j 2.x < 2.17.0 DoS - Nessus

Plugin Overview

Vulnerability Information

Synopsis

Description

Solution

Public Exploits

Risk Information

Plugin Source

How to Run

References

Version

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