CVE-2020-29582: Kotlin stdlib Incorrect Default Permissions Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-cqj8-47ch-rvvq
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CVSS 5.3
CWE-276
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-29582 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) incorrect default permissions vulnerability (CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions) affecting Kotlin stdlib libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves incorrect default permissions in jetbrains kotlin. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.4.21.

CVE-2020-29582 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-29582
GHSA Identifier GHSA-cqj8-47ch-rvvq
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions
Affected Product Kotlin stdlib
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

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:L/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 Low (C:L)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2020-29582

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Kotlin stdlib 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.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib fixed: 1.4.21 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jetbrains.kotlin</groupId>
    <artifactId>kotlin-stdlib</artifactId>
    <version>1.4.21</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.jetbrains.kotlin

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2020-29582, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jetbrains.kotlin

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Kotlin stdlib in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.4.21), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jetbrains.kotlin 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 Kotlin stdlib, 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

In JetBrains Kotlin before 1.4.21, a vulnerable Java API was used for temporary file and folder creation. An attacker was able to read data from such files and list directories due to insecure permissions.

CVE-2020-29582 Affected Kotlin stdlib Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.4.21
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib
maven/org.jetbrains.kotlin/kotlin-stdlib
Maven
< 1.4.21
1.4.21

References

NVD — CVE-2020-29582 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-29582
blog.jetbrains.com WEB
https://blog.jetbrains.com
Kotlin stdlib Security Information SECURITY
https://blog.jetbrains.com/blog/2021/02/03/jetbrains-security-bulletin-q4-2020
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2721ab... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2721aba31a8562639c4b937150897e24f78f747cdbda8641c0f659fe@%3Cusers.kafka.apache.org%3E
Kotlin stdlib Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html
Kotlin stdlib Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
Kotlin stdlib Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-29582?
CVE-2020-29582 is a security vulnerability in Kotlin stdlib involving Incorrect Default Permissions in JetBrains Kotlin under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions.
Which Kotlin stdlib versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.4.21 across affected packages: org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib.
What version fixes CVE-2020-29582?
Upgrading to 1.4.21 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is kotlin-stdlib affected?
Yes, org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib is affected in releases prior to 1.4.21. Upgrade your dependency to 1.4.21 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-29582?
CVE-2020-29582 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-29582?
CVE-2020-29582 is classified under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions (During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-29582?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jetbrains.kotlin'. 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-cqj8-47ch-rvvq",
  "modified" : "2022-06-23T18:04:48Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T17:40:48Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-29582" ],
  "summary" : "Incorrect Default Permissions in JetBrains Kotlin",
  "details" : "In JetBrains Kotlin before 1.4.21, a vulnerable Java API was used for temporary file and folder creation. An attacker was able to read data from such files and list directories due to insecure permissions.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.4.21"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 1.4.20"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-29582"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://blog.jetbrains.com"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://blog.jetbrains.com/blog/2021/02/03/jetbrains-security-bulletin-q4-2020"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2721aba31a8562639c4b937150897e24f78f747cdbda8641c0f659fe@%3Cusers.kafka.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-276" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-06-23T18:04:48Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-02-03T16:15:00Z"
  }
}