CVE-2020-16971: Azure eventhubs Azure SDK For Java Security Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-8q69-pw39-hpqh
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CVSS 7.4
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-16971 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.4) azure sdk for java security vulnerability (General Security Weakness) affecting Azure eventhubs libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves azure sdk for java security feature bypass vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.2.1, 1.6.0.

CVE-2020-16971 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-16971
GHSA Identifier GHSA-8q69-pw39-hpqh
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.4
CWE Classification General Security Weakness
Affected Product Azure eventhubs
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.4

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2020-16971

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

com.microsoft.azure:azure-eventhubs fixed: 3.2.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.microsoft.azure</groupId>
    <artifactId>azure-eventhubs</artifactId>
    <version>3.2.1</version>
</dependency>
com.azure:azure-core-amqp fixed: 1.6.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.azure</groupId>
    <artifactId>azure-core-amqp</artifactId>
    <version>1.6.0</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=com.microsoft.azure

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2020-16971, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.microsoft.azure

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Azure eventhubs in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.2.1), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.microsoft.azure 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 General Security Weakness. In Azure eventhubs, 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

Azure SDK for Java Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2020-16971 Affected Azure eventhubs Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.2.11.6.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
com.microsoft.azure:azure-eventhubs
maven/com.microsoft.azure/azure-eventhubs
Maven
< 3.2.1
3.2.1
com.azure:azure-core-amqp
maven/com.azure/azure-core-amqp
Maven
< 1.6.0
1.6.0

References

NVD — CVE-2020-16971 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-16971
azure.github.io/azure-sdk/releases/... WEB
https://azure.github.io/azure-sdk/releases/2020-10/index.html
azure.github.io/azure-sdk/releases/... WEB
https://azure.github.io/azure-sdk/releases/2020-10/java.html
msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulner... WEB
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2020-16971
Azure eventhubs Security Information SECURITY
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16971

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-16971?
CVE-2020-16971 is a security vulnerability in Azure eventhubs involving Azure SDK for Java Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability under General Security Weakness.
Which Azure eventhubs versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.2.1, 1.6.0 across affected packages: com.microsoft.azure:azure-eventhubs, com.azure:azure-core-amqp.
What version fixes CVE-2020-16971?
Upgrading to 3.2.1, 1.6.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is azure-eventhubs affected?
Yes, com.microsoft.azure:azure-eventhubs is affected in releases prior to 3.2.1. Upgrade your dependency to 3.2.1 or later.
Is azure-core-amqp affected?
Yes, com.azure:azure-core-amqp is affected in releases prior to 1.6.0. Upgrade your dependency to 1.6.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-16971?
CVE-2020-16971 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.4 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-16971?
CVE-2020-16971 is classified under General Security Weakness.
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-16971?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.microsoft.azure'. 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-8q69-pw39-hpqh",
  "modified" : "2024-10-17T17:16:51Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T17:35:51Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-16971" ],
  "summary" : "Azure SDK for Java Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability",
  "details" : "Azure SDK for Java Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.microsoft.azure:azure-eventhubs"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.2.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.azure:azure-core-amqp"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.6.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-16971"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://azure.github.io/azure-sdk/releases/2020-10/index.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://azure.github.io/azure-sdk/releases/2020-10/java.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2020-16971"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16971"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-10-17T17:16:51Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-12-10T00:15:00Z"
  }
}