CVE-2021-33327: Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web Liferay Portal And Liferay DXP Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2021-33327 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.3) liferay portal and liferay dxp vulnerability (CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions) affecting Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves liferay portal and liferay dxp does not properly check user permission. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.0.13, 7.0.10.fp95, 7.1.10.fp19, 7.2.10.fp8.
CVE-2021-33327 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 4.3
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2021-33327
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
<dependency>
<groupId>com.liferay</groupId>
<artifactId>com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web</artifactId>
<version>4.0.13</version>
</dependency><dependency>
<groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
<artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
<version>7.0.10.fp95</version>
</dependency><dependency>
<groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
<artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
<version>7.1.10.fp19</version>
</dependency><dependency>
<groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
<artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
<version>7.2.10.fp8</version>
</dependency>Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferayHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2021-33327, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferayAnalyze the terminal output to locate any version of Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.0.13), your application is affected.
Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferay command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions, where during installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files. In Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2021-33327 Affected Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web Versions
4 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
com.liferay:com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web
|
Maven |
< 4.0.13
|
4.0.13
|
|
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
|
Maven |
≥ 7.0.10.fp93
< 7.0.10.fp95
|
7.0.10.fp95
|
|
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
|
Maven |
≥ 7.1.10.fp18
< 7.1.10.fp19
|
7.1.10.fp19
|
|
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
|
Maven |
≥ 7.2.0
< 7.2.10.fp8
|
7.2.10.fp8
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2021-33327?
Which Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2021-33327?
Is com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web affected?
Is release.dxp.bom affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-33327?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-33327?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-33327?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-22wc-7wmm-v4cc",
"modified" : "2025-06-27T21:07:40Z",
"published" : "2022-05-24T19:09:46Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-33327" ],
"summary" : "Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP does not properly check user permission",
"details" : "The Portlet Configuration module before 4.0.13 in Liferay Portal 7.2.0 through 7.3.3, and Liferay DXP 7.0 fix pack pack 93 and 94, 7.1 fix pack 18, and 7.2 before fix pack 8, does not properly check user permission, which allows remote authenticated users to view the Guest and User role even if \"Role Visibility\" is enabled.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "com.liferay:com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "4.0.13"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "7.0.10.fp93"
}, {
"fixed" : "7.0.10.fp95"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "7.1.10.fp18"
}, {
"fixed" : "7.1.10.fp19"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "7.2.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "7.2.10.fp8"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-33327"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal/commit/44317eb5274d24bb91c43c91cd5c678392eb9eeb"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal/commit/9e1628110ca5f0b7b867e1f55e3886c92fc67ca1"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://issues.liferay.com/browse/LPE-17075"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://liferay.dev/portal/security/known-vulnerabilities/-/asset_publisher/jekt/content/cve-2021-33327-unauthorized-users-can-view-the-guest-and-user-roles?p_r_p_assetEntryId=121611305&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_jekt_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fliferay.dev%3A443%2Fportal%2Fsecurity%2Fknown-vulnerabilities%3Fp_p_id%3Dcom_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_jekt%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_r_p_assetEntryId%3D121611305%26p_r_p_resetCur%3Dfalse%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_jekt_cur%3D0"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-276" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2025-06-27T21:07:40Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2021-08-03T19:15:00Z"
}
}