CVE-2022-33681: Pulsar client Improper Certificate Validation Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2022-33681 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.9) improper certificate validation vulnerability (CWE-295: Improper Certificate Validation) affecting Pulsar client libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache pulsar java client vulnerable to improper certificate validation. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.5, 2.8.4, 2.9.3, 2.10.1.
CVE-2022-33681 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 5.9
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:N/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2022-33681
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Pulsar client 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>org.apache.pulsar</groupId>
<artifactId>pulsar-client</artifactId>
<version>2.7.5</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.pulsar</groupId>
<artifactId>pulsar-client</artifactId>
<version>2.8.4</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.pulsar</groupId>
<artifactId>pulsar-client</artifactId>
<version>2.9.3</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.pulsar</groupId>
<artifactId>pulsar-client</artifactId>
<version>2.10.1</version>
</dependency>
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.pulsar
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2022-33681, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.pulsar
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Pulsar client in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.7.5), your application is affected.
Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.pulsar 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-295: Improper Certificate Validation, where the product does not validate, or incorrectly validates, a certificate. In Pulsar client, 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-2022-33681 Affected Pulsar client Versions
4 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-client
|
Maven |
< 2.7.5
|
2.7.5
|
|
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-client
|
Maven |
≥ 2.8.0
< 2.8.4
|
2.8.4
|
|
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-client
|
Maven |
≥ 2.9.0
< 2.9.3
|
2.9.3
|
|
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-client
|
Maven |
≥ 2.10.0
< 2.10.1
All 1 versions
2.10.0
|
2.10.1
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2022-33681?
Which Pulsar client versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2022-33681?
Is pulsar-client affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-33681?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-33681?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2022-33681?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-c5fp-x2h5-vjv7",
"modified" : "2022-09-30T00:00:47Z",
"published" : "2022-09-25T00:00:27Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-33681" ],
"summary" : "Apache Pulsar Java Client vulnerable to Improper Certificate Validation",
"details" : "Delayed TLS hostname verification in the Pulsar Java Client and the Pulsar Proxy make each client vulnerable to a man in the middle attack. Connections from the Pulsar Java Client to the Pulsar Broker/Proxy and connections from the Pulsar Proxy to the Pulsar Broker are vulnerable. Authentication data is sent before verifying the server’s TLS certificate matches the hostname, which means authentication data could be exposed to an attacker. An attacker can only take advantage of this vulnerability by taking control of a machine 'between' the client and the server. The attacker must then actively manipulate traffic to perform the attack by providing the client with a cryptographically valid certificate for an unrelated host. Because the client sends authentication data before performing hostname verification, an attacker could gain access to the client’s authentication data. The client eventually closes the connection when it verifies the hostname and identifies the targeted hostname does not match a hostname on the certificate. Because the client eventually closes the connection, the value of the intercepted authentication data depends on the authentication method used by the client. Token based authentication and username/password authentication methods are vulnerable because the authentication data can be used to impersonate the client in a separate session. This issue affects Apache Pulsar Java Client versions 2.7.0 to 2.7.4; 2.8.0 to 2.8.3; 2.9.0 to 2.9.2; 2.10.0; 2.6.4 and earlier.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-client"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.7.5"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-client"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "2.8.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.8.4"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-client"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "2.9.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.9.3"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-client"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "2.10.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.10.1"
} ]
} ],
"versions" : [ "2.10.0" ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-33681"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/apache/pulsar/tree/db26073728bf86fc80deecaece2dc02b50bbb9b5/pulsar-client"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/fpo6x10trvn20hlk0dmnr5vlz5v4kl3d"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-295" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2022-09-30T00:00:47Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2022-09-23T10:15:00Z"
}
}