CVE-2021-3578: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-4r75-vj28-w5c7
Share
CVSS 7.8
CWE-704
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-3578 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.8) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-704: Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the product does not correctly convert an object, resource, or structure from one type to a different type.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2021-3578 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-3578
GHSA Identifier GHSA-4r75-vj28-w5c7
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.8
CWE Classification CWE-704: Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.8

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

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
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-2021-3578

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

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

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2021-3578, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software 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 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-704: Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast, where the product does not correctly convert an object, resource, or structure from one type to a different type. In Software, 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 flaw was found in mbsync before v1.3.6 and v1.4.2, where an unchecked pointer cast allows a malicious or compromised server to write an arbitrary integer value past the end of a heap-allocated structure by issuing an unexpected APPENDUID response. This could be plausibly exploited for remote code execution on the client.

References

NVD — CVE-2021-3578 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3578
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1961710
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1967397
github.blog/2021-06-10-privileg... WEB
https://github.blog/2021-06-10-privilege-escalation-polkit-root-on-linux-with-bug
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/07/msg00001.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-15
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/RPIDLIJKNRJHUVBCL7QGAPAAVPIHQGXK
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/U75UFEWRAZYKVL5NHMPBUOLWN3WXTOEI
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/06/07/1
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/06/07/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-3578?
CVE-2021-3578 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-704: Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2021-3578?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-3578?
CVE-2021-3578 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-3578?
CVE-2021-3578 is classified under CWE-704: Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast (The product does not correctly convert an object, resource, or structure from one type to a different type.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-3578?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. 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-4r75-vj28-w5c7",
  "modified" : "2022-07-02T00:00:25Z",
  "published" : "2022-02-17T00:00:28Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-3578" ],
  "details" : "A flaw was found in mbsync before v1.3.6 and v1.4.2, where an unchecked pointer cast allows a malicious or compromised server to write an arbitrary integer value past the end of a heap-allocated structure by issuing an unexpected APPENDUID response. This could be plausibly exploited for remote code execution on the client.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3578"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1961710"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1967397"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.blog/2021-06-10-privilege-escalation-polkit-root-on-linux-with-bug"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/07/msg00001.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/RPIDLIJKNRJHUVBCL7QGAPAAVPIHQGXK"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/U75UFEWRAZYKVL5NHMPBUOLWN3WXTOEI"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-15"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/06/07/1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/06/07/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-704" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-02-16T19:15:00Z"
  }
}