GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr: Pax logging log4j2 Remote Code Injection Vulnerability

CRITICAL
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Advisory Summary

GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr is a CRITICAL remote code injection vulnerability (General Security Weakness) affecting Pax logging log4j2 libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves remote code injection in log4j (through pax-logging-log4j2). Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.0.11, 1.11.10.

GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification General Security Weakness
Affected Product Pax logging log4j2
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Pax logging log4j2 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.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2 fixed: 2.0.11 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.ops4j.pax.logging</groupId>
    <artifactId>pax-logging-log4j2</artifactId>
    <version>2.0.11</version>
</dependency>
org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2 fixed: 1.11.10 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.ops4j.pax.logging</groupId>
    <artifactId>pax-logging-log4j2</artifactId>
    <version>1.11.10</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.ops4j.pax.logging

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.ops4j.pax.logging

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Pax logging log4j2 in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.0.11), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.ops4j.pax.logging 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 Pax logging log4j2, 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 Remote Code Execution. ### Patches Users of pax-logging 1.11.9 should update to 1.11.10. Users of pax-logging 2.0.10 should update to 2.0.11. ### Workarounds Set system property `-Dlog4j2.formatMsgNoLookups=true` ### References https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-jfh8-c2jp-5v3q

GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr Affected Pax logging log4j2 Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.0.111.11.10
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2
maven/org.ops4j.pax.logging/pax-logging-log4j2
Maven
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.0.11
2.0.11
org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2
maven/org.ops4j.pax.logging/pax-logging-log4j2
Maven
< 1.11.10
1.11.10

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/ops4j/org.ops4j.pax.logging/security/advisories/GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-jfh8-c2jp-5v3q
Pax logging log4j2 Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ops4j/org.ops4j.pax.logging

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr?
GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr is a security vulnerability in Pax logging log4j2 involving Remote code injection in Log4j (through pax-logging-log4j2) under General Security Weakness.
Which Pax logging log4j2 versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.0.11, 1.11.10 across affected packages: org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2.
What version fixes GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr?
Upgrading to 2.0.11, 1.11.10 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is pax-logging-log4j2 affected?
Yes, org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2 is affected in releases prior to 2.0.11, 1.11.10. Upgrade your dependency to 2.0.11, 1.11.10 or later.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr?
GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr is classified under General Security Weakness.
How can I check Maven dependencies for GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.ops4j.pax.logging'. 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-xxfh-x98p-j8fr",
  "modified" : "2021-12-11T21:25:16Z",
  "published" : "2021-12-10T20:15:37Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "Remote code injection in Log4j (through pax-logging-log4j2)",
  "details" : "### Impact\nRemote Code Execution.\n\n### Patches\nUsers of pax-logging 1.11.9 should update to 1.11.10.\nUsers of pax-logging 2.0.10 should update to 2.0.11.\n\n### Workarounds\nSet system property `-Dlog4j2.formatMsgNoLookups=true`\n\n### References\nhttps://github.com/advisories/GHSA-jfh8-c2jp-5v3q\n\n",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.0.11"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.ops4j.pax.logging:pax-logging-log4j2"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.11.10"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ops4j/org.ops4j.pax.logging/security/advisories/GHSA-xxfh-x98p-j8fr"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-jfh8-c2jp-5v3q"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ops4j/org.ops4j.pax.logging"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-12-10T18:54:56Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}