CVE-2021-21363: Generator Web Application Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability Vulnerability

LOW
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-pc22-3g76-gm6j
CVSS 9.3
CWE-379 CWE-378
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-21363 is a LOW (CVSS 9.3) local privilege escalation vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-379: Creation of Temporary File in Directory with Insecure Permissions) affecting Generator Web Application libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves local privilege escalation vulnerability via system temp directory. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.4.19.

CVE-2021-21363 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-21363
GHSA Identifier GHSA-pc22-3g76-gm6j
Severity LOW
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.3
CWE Classification CWE-379: Creation of Temporary File in Directory with Insecure Permissions
Affected Product Generator Web Application
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.3

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

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2021-21363

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

io.swagger:swagger-codegen fixed: 2.4.19
<dependency>
    <groupId>io.swagger</groupId>
    <artifactId>swagger-codegen</artifactId>
    <version>2.4.19</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=io.swagger

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2021-21363, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.swagger

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Generator Web Application in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.4.19), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.swagger 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-379: Creation of Temporary File in Directory with Insecure Permissions, where the product creates a temporary file in a directory whose permissions allow unintended actors to determine the file's existence or otherwise access that file. In Generator Web Application, 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 On Unix like systems, the system's temporary directory is shared between all users on that system. A collocated user can observe the process of creating a temporary sub directory in the shared temporary directory and race to complete the creation of the temporary subdirectory. This vulnerability is local privilege escalation because the contents of the `outputFolder` can be appended to by an attacker. As such, code written to this directory, when executed can be attacker controlled. #### Java Code The method `File.createTempFile` from the JDK is vulnerable to this local information disclosure vulnerability. https://github.com/swagger-api/swagger-codegen/blob/068b1ebcb7b04a48ad38f1cadd24bb3810c9f1ab/modules/swagger-generator/src/main/java/io/swagger/generator/online/Generator.java#L174-L185 ### Patches Fix has been applied to the master branch with: * https://github.com/swagger-api/swagger-codegen/commit/987ea7a30b463cc239580d6ad166c707ae942a89 included in release: 2.4.19 ### References * [CWE-378: Creation of Temporary File With Insecure Permissions](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/378.html) * [CWE-379: Creation of Temporary File in Directory with Insecure Permissions](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/379.html) ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Email us at [security@swagger.io](mailto:security@swagger.io) #### Original vulnerability report > I'm performing OSS security research under the GitHub Security Lab Bug Bounty program. > I've been using a custom CodeQL query to find local temporary directory vulnerabilities in OSS with three custom CodeQL queries. > > - https://github.com/github/codeql/pull/4388/files#diff-71d36c0f2bd0b08e32866f873f1c906cdc17277e0ad327c0c6cd2c882f30de4f > - https://github.com/github/codeql/pull/4388/files#diff-1893a18a8bf43c011d61a7889d0139b998a5a78701a30fe7722eddd4c506aaac > - https://github.com/github/codeql/pull/4473 > > The code generated by the Swagger Generator contains a local information disclosure vulnerability. The system temporary directory, on unix-like systems is shared between multiple users. Information written to this directory, or directories created under this directory that do not correctly set the posix standard permissions can have these directories read/modified by other users. > > --- > > This vulnerability exists in the maven plugin. > > This vulnerability is distinctly different. This vulnerability is most likely a local privilege escalation vulnerability. > > https://github.com/swagger-api/swagger-codegen/blob/068b1ebcb7b04a48ad38f1cadd24bb3810c9f1ab/modules/swagger-generator/src/main/java/io/swagger/generator/online/Generator.java#L174-L185 > > This vulnerability is very similar to this similar vulnerability I disclosed in the Eclipse Jetty project. > > https://github.com/eclipse/jetty.project/security/advisories/GHSA-g3wg-6mcf-8jj6 > > This is due to a race condition between the call to `delete` and the call to `mkdirs`. > > ```java > // ensure file will always be unique by appending random digits > File outputFolder = File.createTempFile("codegen-", "-tmp"); // Attacker knows the full path of the file that will be generated > // delete the file that was created > outputFolder.delete(); // Attacker sees file is deleted and begins a race to create their own directory before Swagger Code Generator. > // and make a directory of the same name > // SECURITY VULNERABILITY: Race Condition! - Attacker beats Swagger Code Generator and now owns this directory > outputFolder.mkdirs(); > ``` > > This vulnerability is local privilege escalation because the contents of the `outputFolder` can be appended to by an attacker. As such, code written to this directory, when executed can be attacker controlled. > > The fix here is to switch to the `Files` API for creating temporary directories. Which does not contain this race condition, and appropriately sets the correct file permissions. >

CVE-2021-21363 Affected Generator Web Application Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.4.19
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
io.swagger:swagger-codegen
Maven
< 2.4.19
2.4.19

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-21363?
CVE-2021-21363 is a security vulnerability in Generator Web Application involving Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability via System Temp Directory under CWE-379: Creation of Temporary File in Directory with Insecure Permissions.
Which Generator Web Application versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.4.19 across affected packages: io.swagger:swagger-codegen.
What version fixes CVE-2021-21363?
Upgrading to 2.4.19 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is swagger-codegen affected?
Yes, io.swagger:swagger-codegen is affected in releases prior to 2.4.19. Upgrade your dependency to 2.4.19 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-21363?
CVE-2021-21363 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.3 (LOW) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-21363?
CVE-2021-21363 is classified under CWE-379: Creation of Temporary File in Directory with Insecure Permissions (The product creates a temporary file in a directory whose permissions allow unintended actors to determine the file's existence or otherwise access that file.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-21363?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=io.swagger'. 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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-pc22-3g76-gm6j",
  "modified" : "2021-03-22T23:45:20Z",
  "published" : "2021-03-11T03:09:16Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-21363" ],
  "summary" : "Generator Web Application: Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability via System Temp Directory",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nOn Unix like systems, the system's temporary directory is shared between all users on that system. A collocated user can observe the process of creating a temporary sub directory in the shared temporary directory and race to complete the creation of the temporary subdirectory. \n\nThis vulnerability is local privilege escalation because the contents of the `outputFolder` can be appended to by an attacker. As such, code written to this directory, when executed can be attacker controlled.\n\n#### Java Code\n\nThe method `File.createTempFile` from the JDK is vulnerable to this local information disclosure vulnerability.\n\nhttps://github.com/swagger-api/swagger-codegen/blob/068b1ebcb7b04a48ad38f1cadd24bb3810c9f1ab/modules/swagger-generator/src/main/java/io/swagger/generator/online/Generator.java#L174-L185\n\n\n### Patches\n\nFix has been applied to the master branch with:\n\n* https://github.com/swagger-api/swagger-codegen/commit/987ea7a30b463cc239580d6ad166c707ae942a89\n\nincluded in release: 2.4.19\n\n\n### References\n\n* [CWE-378: Creation of Temporary File With Insecure Permissions](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/378.html)\n* [CWE-379: Creation of Temporary File in Directory with Insecure Permissions](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/379.html)\n\n### For more information\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n\n* Email us at [security@swagger.io](mailto:security@swagger.io)\n\n#### Original vulnerability report\n\n> I'm performing OSS security research under the GitHub Security Lab Bug Bounty program.\n> I've been using a custom CodeQL query to find local temporary directory vulnerabilities in OSS with three custom CodeQL queries.\n> \n> - https://github.com/github/codeql/pull/4388/files#diff-71d36c0f2bd0b08e32866f873f1c906cdc17277e0ad327c0c6cd2c882f30de4f\n> - https://github.com/github/codeql/pull/4388/files#diff-1893a18a8bf43c011d61a7889d0139b998a5a78701a30fe7722eddd4c506aaac\n> - https://github.com/github/codeql/pull/4473\n> \n> The code generated by the Swagger Generator contains a local information disclosure vulnerability. The system temporary directory, on unix-like systems is shared between multiple users. Information written to this directory, or directories created under this directory that do not correctly set the posix standard permissions can have these directories read/modified by other users.\n> \n> ---\n> \n> This vulnerability exists in the maven plugin.\n> \n> This vulnerability is distinctly different. This vulnerability is most likely a local privilege escalation vulnerability.\n> \n> https://github.com/swagger-api/swagger-codegen/blob/068b1ebcb7b04a48ad38f1cadd24bb3810c9f1ab/modules/swagger-generator/src/main/java/io/swagger/generator/online/Generator.java#L174-L185\n> \n> This vulnerability is very similar to this similar vulnerability I disclosed in the Eclipse Jetty project.\n> \n> https://github.com/eclipse/jetty.project/security/advisories/GHSA-g3wg-6mcf-8jj6\n> \n> This is due to a race condition between the call to `delete` and the call to `mkdirs`.\n> \n> ```java\n> // ensure file will always be unique by appending random digits\n> File outputFolder = File.createTempFile(\"codegen-\", \"-tmp\"); // Attacker knows the full path of the file that will be generated\n> // delete the file that was created\n> outputFolder.delete(); // Attacker sees file is deleted and begins a race to create their own directory before Swagger Code Generator.\n> // and make a directory of the same name\n> // SECURITY VULNERABILITY: Race Condition! - Attacker beats Swagger Code Generator and now owns this directory\n> outputFolder.mkdirs();\n> ```\n> \n> This vulnerability is local privilege escalation because the contents of the `outputFolder` can be appended to by an attacker. As such, code written to this directory, when executed can be attacker controlled.\n> \n> The fix here is to switch to the `Files` API for creating temporary directories. Which does not contain this race condition, and appropriately sets the correct file permissions.\n> ",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "io.swagger:swagger-codegen"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.4.19"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/swagger-api/swagger-codegen/security/advisories/GHSA-pc22-3g76-gm6j"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21363"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/swagger-api/swagger-codegen/commit/987ea7a30b463cc239580d6ad166c707ae942a89"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-378", "CWE-379" ],
    "severity" : "LOW",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-03-11T03:07:41Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-03-11T03:15:00Z"
  }
}