CVE-2022-23307: Log4j Deserialization Of Untrusted Data Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-f7vh-qwp3-x37m
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-502
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2022-23307 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Log4j libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves deserialization of untrusted data in apache log4j. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2022-23307 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2022-23307
GHSA Identifier GHSA-f7vh-qwp3-x37m
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product Log4j
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

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:H/A:H).

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 High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2022-23307

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Log4j dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

log4j:log4j fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>log4j</groupId>
    <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons:log4j-1.2.17 fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons</groupId>
    <artifactId>log4j-1.2.17</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</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=log4j

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2022-23307, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=log4j

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Log4j in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=log4j 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-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, where the product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid. In Log4j, 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-2020-9493 identified a deserialization issue that was present in Apache Chainsaw. Prior to Chainsaw V2.0 Chainsaw was a component of Apache Log4j 1.2.x where the same issue exists. Users are advised to migrate from `log4j:log4j` to `org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j` for an updated version of the library.

CVE-2022-23307 Affected Log4j Versions

2 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
log4j:log4j
maven/log4j/log4j
Maven
≤ 1.2.17
org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons:log4j-1.2.17
maven/org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons/log4j-1.2.17
Maven
≤ 2.0

References

NVD — CVE-2022-23307 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23307
lists.apache.org/thread/rg4yyc89vs3d... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/rg4yyc89vs3dw6kpy3r92xop9loywyhh
logging.apache.org/log4j/1.2/index.htm... WEB
https://logging.apache.org/log4j/1.2/index.html
Log4j Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
Log4j Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-23307?
CVE-2022-23307 is a security vulnerability in Log4j involving Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Apache Log4j under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which Log4j versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: log4j:log4j, org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons:log4j-1.2.17.
What version fixes CVE-2022-23307?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is log4j affected?
Yes, log4j:log4j is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
Is log4j-1.2.17 affected?
Yes, org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons:log4j-1.2.17 is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-23307?
CVE-2022-23307 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-23307?
CVE-2022-23307 is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data (The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2022-23307?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=log4j'. 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-f7vh-qwp3-x37m",
  "modified" : "2022-11-25T17:19:49Z",
  "published" : "2022-01-19T00:01:15Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-23307" ],
  "summary" : "Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Apache Log4j",
  "details" : "CVE-2020-9493 identified a deserialization issue that was present in Apache Chainsaw. Prior to Chainsaw V2.0 Chainsaw was a component of Apache Log4j 1.2.x where the same issue exists.\n\nUsers are advised to migrate from `log4j:log4j` to `org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j` for an updated version of the library.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "log4j:log4j"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.2.17"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons:log4j-1.2.17"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "2.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23307"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/rg4yyc89vs3dw6kpy3r92xop9loywyhh"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://logging.apache.org/log4j/1.2/index.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-06-20T22:48:35Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-01-18T16:15:00Z"
  }
}