CVE-2021-33900: Org.apache.directory.studio.parent Missing Encryption Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-4x25-f45x-grv5
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-319 CWE-311
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-33900 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) missing encryption vulnerability (CWE-319: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information) affecting Org.apache.directory.studio.parent libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves missing encryption in apache directory studio. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.0.0.v20210717-M17.

CVE-2021-33900 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-33900
GHSA Identifier GHSA-4x25-f45x-grv5
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-319: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information
Affected Product Org.apache.directory.studio.parent
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2021-33900

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Org.apache.directory.studio.parent dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.apache.directory.studio:org.apache.directory.studio.parent fixed: 2.0.0.v20210717-M17 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.directory.studio</groupId>
    <artifactId>org.apache.directory.studio.parent</artifactId>
    <version>2.0.0.v20210717-M17</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.directory.studio

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2021-33900, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.directory.studio

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Org.apache.directory.studio.parent in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.0.0.v20210717-M17), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.directory.studio 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-319: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information, where the product transmits sensitive or security-critical data in cleartext in a communication channel that can be sniffed by unauthorized actors. In Org.apache.directory.studio.parent, 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

While investigating DIRSTUDIO-1219 it was noticed that configured StartTLS encryption was not applied when any SASL authentication mechanism (DIGEST-MD5, GSSAPI) was used. While investigating DIRSTUDIO-1220 it was noticed that any configured SASL confidentiality layer was not applied. This issue affects Apache Directory Studio version 2.0.0.v20210213-M16 and prior versions.

CVE-2021-33900 Affected Org.apache.directory.studio.parent Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.0.0.v20210717-M17
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.directory.studio:org.apache.directory.studio.parent
maven/org.apache.directory.studio/org.apache.directory.studio.parent
Maven
< 2.0.0.v20210717-M17
2.0.0.v20210717-M17

References

NVD — CVE-2021-33900 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-33900
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb1dbcc... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb1dbcc43a5b406e45d335343a1704f4233de613140a01929d102fdc9%40%3Cusers.directory.apache.org%3E

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-33900?
CVE-2021-33900 is a security vulnerability in Org.apache.directory.studio.parent involving Missing encryption in Apache Directory Studio under CWE-319: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information.
Which Org.apache.directory.studio.parent versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.0.0.v20210717-M17 across affected packages: org.apache.directory.studio:org.apache.directory.studio.parent.
What version fixes CVE-2021-33900?
Upgrading to 2.0.0.v20210717-M17 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is org.apache.directory.studio.parent affected?
Yes, org.apache.directory.studio:org.apache.directory.studio.parent is affected in releases prior to 2.0.0.v20210717-M17. Upgrade your dependency to 2.0.0.v20210717-M17 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-33900?
CVE-2021-33900 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-33900?
CVE-2021-33900 is classified under CWE-319: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information (The product transmits sensitive or security-critical data in cleartext in a communication channel that can be sniffed by unauthorized actors.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-33900?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.directory.studio'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-4x25-f45x-grv5",
  "modified" : "2021-08-10T16:54:25Z",
  "published" : "2021-08-09T20:40:53Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-33900" ],
  "summary" : "Missing encryption in Apache Directory Studio",
  "details" : "While investigating DIRSTUDIO-1219 it was noticed that configured StartTLS encryption was not applied when any SASL authentication mechanism (DIGEST-MD5, GSSAPI) was used. While investigating DIRSTUDIO-1220 it was noticed that any configured SASL confidentiality layer was not applied. This issue affects Apache Directory Studio version 2.0.0.v20210213-M16 and prior versions.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.directory.studio:org.apache.directory.studio.parent"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.0.0.v20210717-M17"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2.0.0.v20210213-M16"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-33900"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb1dbcc43a5b406e45d335343a1704f4233de613140a01929d102fdc9%40%3Cusers.directory.apache.org%3E"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-311", "CWE-319" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-08-02T21:23:12Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-07-26T07:15:00Z"
  }
}