CVE-2021-26544: Livy server Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-74qp-233x-p5j8
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CVSS 5.4
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-26544 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.4) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Livy server libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache livy cross-site scripting (xss) in session names. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 0.7.1-incubating.

CVE-2021-26544 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-26544
GHSA Identifier GHSA-74qp-233x-p5j8
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.4
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Livy server
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.4

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:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2021-26544

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Livy server 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.livy:livy-server fixed: 0.7.1-incubating 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.livy</groupId>
    <artifactId>livy-server</artifactId>
    <version>0.7.1-incubating</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.livy

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2021-26544, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.livy

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Livy server in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 0.7.1-incubating), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.livy 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-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Livy server, 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

Livy server version 0.7.0-incubating (only) is vulnerable to a cross site scripting issue in the session name. A malicious user could use this flaw to access logs and results of other users' sessions and run jobs with their privileges. This issue is fixed in Livy 0.7.1-incubating.

CVE-2021-26544 Affected Livy server Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
0.7.1-incubating
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.livy:livy-server
maven/org.apache.livy/livy-server
Maven
≥ 0.7.0-incubating
< 0.7.1-incubating
All 1 versions
0.7.0-incubating
0.7.1-incubating

References

NVD — CVE-2021-26544 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-26544
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/incubator-livy/commit/4d8a912699683b973eee76d4e91447d769a0cb0d
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/incubator-livy/commit/9f1ba47a2f0d8accc435b133b42c3a76aa9ac846
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2db14e... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2db14e7fd1e5ec2519e8828d43529bad623d75698cc7918af3a3f3ed%40%3Cuser.livy.apache.org%3E
Livy server Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/02/20/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-26544?
CVE-2021-26544 is a security vulnerability in Livy server involving Apache Livy Cross-site scripting (XSS) in session names under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Livy server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 0.7.1-incubating across affected packages: org.apache.livy:livy-server.
What version fixes CVE-2021-26544?
Upgrading to 0.7.1-incubating (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is livy-server affected?
Yes, org.apache.livy:livy-server is affected in releases prior to 0.7.1-incubating. Upgrade your dependency to 0.7.1-incubating or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-26544?
CVE-2021-26544 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.4 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-26544?
CVE-2021-26544 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-26544?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.livy'. 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-74qp-233x-p5j8",
  "modified" : "2023-09-25T11:24:19Z",
  "published" : "2021-05-13T22:30:41Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-26544" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Livy Cross-site scripting (XSS) in session names",
  "details" : "Livy server version 0.7.0-incubating (only) is vulnerable to a cross site scripting issue in the session name. A malicious user could use this flaw to access logs and results of other users' sessions and run jobs with their privileges. This issue is fixed in Livy 0.7.1-incubating.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.livy:livy-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0.7.0-incubating"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "0.7.1-incubating"
      } ]
    } ],
    "versions" : [ "0.7.0-incubating" ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-26544"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/incubator-livy/commit/4d8a912699683b973eee76d4e91447d769a0cb0d"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/incubator-livy/commit/9f1ba47a2f0d8accc435b133b42c3a76aa9ac846"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2db14e7fd1e5ec2519e8828d43529bad623d75698cc7918af3a3f3ed%40%3Cuser.livy.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/02/20/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-04-01T22:56:37Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-02-20T09:15:00Z"
  }
}