GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8: Opencast common Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
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Advisory Summary

GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8 is a CRITICAL remote code execution vulnerability (General Security Weakness) affecting Opencast common libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache log4j remote code execution. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 9.10, 10.6.

GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8 at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification General Security Weakness
Affected Product Opencast common
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Opencast common 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.opencastproject:opencast-common fixed: 9.10 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.opencastproject</groupId>
    <artifactId>opencast-common</artifactId>
    <version>9.10</version>
</dependency>
org.opencastproject:opencast-common fixed: 10.6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.opencastproject</groupId>
    <artifactId>opencast-common</artifactId>
    <version>10.6</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.opencastproject

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.opencastproject

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Opencast common in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 9.10), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.opencastproject 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 Opencast common, 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

### Impact Opencast uses an Apache Log4j2 version which, combined with older JDK versions, can be used for remote code execution attacks which have been found to be actively exploited. Apache Log4j2 <=2.14.1 JNDI features is not sufficiently protected. An attacker who can control log messages or log message parameters can execute arbitrary code when message lookup substitution is enabled. ### Who is affected - Opencast before 9.10 or 10.6 are affected - Log4j version: all 2.x versions before 2.15.0 are affected ### Patches The issue has been fixed in Opencast 9.10 and 10.6. ### Workarounds The vulnerability can be mitigated by setting system property `log4j2.formatMsgNoLookups` to `true`. ### References - [Opencast pull request mitigating the vulnerability](https://github.com/opencast/opencast/pull/3253) - [CVE-2021-44228 Detail](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44228) - [Analysis and Remediation Guidance to the Log4j Zero-Day RCE (CVE-2021-44228) Vulnerability](https://www.veracode.com/blog/security-news/urgent-analysis-and-remediation-guidance-log4j-zero-day-rce-cve-2021-44228) - [VE-2021-44228 – Log4j 2 Vulnerability Analysis](https://www.randori.com/blog/cve-2021-44228/) ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open an issue in [our issue tracker](https://github.com/opencast/opencast/issues) * Email us at [security@opencast.org](mailto:security@opencast.org) ### Note about dependencies This issue affects many Java applications. Please also verify these are not vulnerable.

GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8 Affected Opencast common Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
9.1010.6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.opencastproject:opencast-common
maven/org.opencastproject/opencast-common
Maven
< 9.10
9.10
org.opencastproject:opencast-common
maven/org.opencastproject/opencast-common
Maven
≥ 10.0
< 10.6
10.6

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/opencast/opencast/security/advisories/GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8
NVD — GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44228
Opencast common Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/opencast/opencast/pull/3253
https://docs.opencast.org/r/10.x/admin/#changelog/#opencast-106 WEB
https://docs.opencast.org/r/10.x/admin/#changelog/#opencast-106
https://docs.opencast.org/r/9.x/admin/#changelog/#opencast-910 WEB
https://docs.opencast.org/r/9.x/admin/#changelog/#opencast-910
Opencast common Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/opencast/opencast

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8?
GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8 is a security vulnerability in Opencast common involving Apache Log4j Remote Code Execution under General Security Weakness.
Which Opencast common versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 9.10, 10.6 across affected packages: org.opencastproject:opencast-common.
What version fixes GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8?
Upgrading to 9.10, 10.6 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is opencast-common affected?
Yes, org.opencastproject:opencast-common is affected in releases prior to 9.10, 10.6. Upgrade your dependency to 9.10, 10.6 or later.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8?
GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8 is classified under General Security Weakness.
How can I check Maven dependencies for GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.opencastproject'. 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-mf4f-j588-5xm8",
  "modified" : "2021-12-14T15:29:17Z",
  "published" : "2021-12-14T21:07:14Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "Apache Log4j Remote Code Execution",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nOpencast uses an Apache Log4j2 version which, combined with older JDK versions, can be used for remote code execution attacks which have been found to be actively exploited.\n\nApache Log4j2 <=2.14.1 JNDI features is not sufficiently protected. An attacker who can control log messages or log message parameters can execute arbitrary code when message lookup substitution is enabled.\n\n### Who is affected\n\n- Opencast before 9.10 or 10.6 are affected\n    - Log4j version: all 2.x versions before 2.15.0 are affected\n\n### Patches\n\nThe issue has been fixed in Opencast 9.10 and 10.6.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nThe vulnerability can be mitigated by setting system property `log4j2.formatMsgNoLookups` to `true`.\n\n### References\n\n- [Opencast pull request mitigating the vulnerability](https://github.com/opencast/opencast/pull/3253)\n- [CVE-2021-44228 Detail](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44228)\n- [Analysis and Remediation Guidance to the Log4j Zero-Day RCE (CVE-2021-44228) Vulnerability](https://www.veracode.com/blog/security-news/urgent-analysis-and-remediation-guidance-log4j-zero-day-rce-cve-2021-44228)\n- [VE-2021-44228 – Log4j 2 Vulnerability Analysis](https://www.randori.com/blog/cve-2021-44228/)\n\n### For more information\n\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n* Open an issue in [our issue tracker](https://github.com/opencast/opencast/issues)\n* Email us at [security@opencast.org](mailto:security@opencast.org)\n\n\n### Note about dependencies\n\nThis issue affects many Java applications. Please also verify these are not vulnerable.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.opencastproject:opencast-common"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "9.10"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.opencastproject:opencast-common"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "10.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "10.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/opencast/opencast/security/advisories/GHSA-mf4f-j588-5xm8"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44228"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/opencast/opencast/pull/3253"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://docs.opencast.org/r/10.x/admin/#changelog/#opencast-106"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://docs.opencast.org/r/9.x/admin/#changelog/#opencast-910"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/opencast/opencast"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-12-14T15:22:20Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}