CVE-2021-31684: Json smart Out Of Bounds Read Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-fg2v-w576-w4v3
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-125 CWE-787
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-31684 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) out of bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read) affecting Json smart libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves out of bounds read in json-smart. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.3.3, 2.4.4.

CVE-2021-31684 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-31684
GHSA Identifier GHSA-fg2v-w576-w4v3
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read
Affected Product Json smart
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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:N/I:N/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 None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2021-31684

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

net.minidev:json-smart fixed: 1.3.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>net.minidev</groupId>
    <artifactId>json-smart</artifactId>
    <version>1.3.3</version>
</dependency>
net.minidev:json-smart fixed: 2.4.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>net.minidev</groupId>
    <artifactId>json-smart</artifactId>
    <version>2.4.4</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=net.minidev

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2021-31684, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=net.minidev

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Json smart in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.3.3), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=net.minidev 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-125: Out-of-bounds Read, where the product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. In Json smart, 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

A vulnerability was discovered in the indexOf function of JSONParserByteArray in JSON Smart versions prior to 1.3.3 and 2.4.5 which causes a denial of service (DOS) via a crafted web request.

CVE-2021-31684 Affected Json smart Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.3.32.4.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
net.minidev:json-smart
maven/net.minidev/json-smart
Maven
≥ 1.3.0
< 1.3.3
1.3.3
net.minidev:json-smart
maven/net.minidev/json-smart
Maven
≥ 2.4.0
< 2.4.4
2.4.4

References

NVD — CVE-2021-31684 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-31684
Json smart Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/netplex/json-smart-v1/issues/10
Json smart Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/netplex/json-smart-v2/issues/67
Json smart Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/netplex/json-smart-v1/pull/11
Json smart Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/netplex/json-smart-v2/pull/68
Json smart Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/netplex/json-smart-v1
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/03/msg00030.html
Json smart Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240621-0006
Json smart Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html
Json smart Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-31684?
CVE-2021-31684 is a security vulnerability in Json smart involving Out of bounds read in json-smart under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read.
Which Json smart versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.3.3, 2.4.4 across affected packages: net.minidev:json-smart.
What version fixes CVE-2021-31684?
Upgrading to 1.3.3, 2.4.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is json-smart affected?
Yes, net.minidev:json-smart is affected in releases prior to 1.3.3, 2.4.4. Upgrade your dependency to 1.3.3, 2.4.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-31684?
CVE-2021-31684 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-31684?
CVE-2021-31684 is classified under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read (The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-31684?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=net.minidev'. 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-fg2v-w576-w4v3",
  "modified" : "2024-06-21T21:33:50Z",
  "published" : "2022-02-10T22:46:22Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-31684" ],
  "summary" : "Out of bounds read in json-smart",
  "details" : "A vulnerability was discovered in the indexOf function of JSONParserByteArray in JSON Smart versions prior to 1.3.3 and 2.4.5 which causes a denial of service (DOS) via a crafted web request.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "net.minidev:json-smart"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.3.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "net.minidev:json-smart"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.4.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.4.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-31684"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/netplex/json-smart-v1/issues/10"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/netplex/json-smart-v2/issues/67"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/netplex/json-smart-v1/pull/11"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/netplex/json-smart-v2/pull/68"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/netplex/json-smart-v1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/03/msg00030.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240621-0006"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-125", "CWE-787" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-06-02T20:27:42Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-06-01T20:15:00Z"
  }
}