CVE-2021-38268: Com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service Liferay Portal And Liferay DXP Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-f855-2rvm-5j7h
CVSS 6.5
CWE-276
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-38268 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) liferay portal and liferay dxp vulnerability (CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions) affecting Com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves liferay portal and liferay dxp has incorrect default permissions for site members. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 6.0.0, 7.0.10.fp101, 7.1.10.fp21, 7.2.10.fp10, 7.3.10.fp2.

CVE-2021-38268 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-38268
GHSA Identifier GHSA-f855-2rvm-5j7h
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions
Affected Product Com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2021-38268

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

com.liferay:com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service fixed: 6.0.0
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay</groupId>
    <artifactId>com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service</artifactId>
    <version>6.0.0</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.0.10.fp101
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.0.10.fp101</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.1.10.fp21
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.1.10.fp21</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.2.10.fp10
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.2.10.fp10</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.3.10.fp2
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.3.10.fp2</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=com.liferay

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2021-38268, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferay

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 6.0.0), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferay 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-276: Incorrect Default Permissions, where during installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files. In Com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service, 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

The Dynamic Data Mapping module before 4.0.39 from Liferay Portal 7.0.0 through 7.3.6, and Liferay DXP 7.0 before fix pack 101, 7.1 before fix pack 21, 7.2 before fix pack 10 and 7.3 before fix pack 2 incorrectly sets default permissions for site members, which allows remote authenticated users with the site member role to add and duplicate forms, via the UI or the API.

CVE-2021-38268 Affected Com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service Versions

5 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
6.0.07.0.10.fp1017.1.10.fp217.2.10.fp107.3.10.fp2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
com.liferay:com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service
Maven
< 6.0.0
6.0.0
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
Maven
≥ 7.0.0
< 7.0.10.fp101
7.0.10.fp101
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
Maven
≥ 7.1.0
< 7.1.10.fp21
7.1.10.fp21
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
Maven
≥ 7.2.0
< 7.2.10.fp10
7.2.10.fp10
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
Maven
≥ 7.3.0
< 7.3.10.fp2
7.3.10.fp2

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-38268?
CVE-2021-38268 is a security vulnerability in Com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service involving Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP has incorrect default permissions for site members under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions.
Which Com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 6.0.0, 7.0.10.fp101, 7.1.10.fp21, 7.2.10.fp10, 7.3.10.fp2 across affected packages: com.liferay:com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service, com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom.
What version fixes CVE-2021-38268?
Upgrading to 6.0.0, 7.0.10.fp101, 7.1.10.fp21, 7.2.10.fp10, 7.3.10.fp2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service affected?
Yes, com.liferay:com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service is affected in releases prior to 6.0.0. Upgrade your dependency to 6.0.0 or later.
Is release.dxp.bom affected?
Yes, com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom is affected in releases prior to 7.0.10.fp101, 7.1.10.fp21, 7.2.10.fp10, 7.3.10.fp2. Upgrade your dependency to 7.0.10.fp101, 7.1.10.fp21, 7.2.10.fp10, 7.3.10.fp2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-38268?
CVE-2021-38268 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-38268?
CVE-2021-38268 is classified under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions (During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-38268?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferay'. 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-f855-2rvm-5j7h",
  "modified" : "2025-07-14T22:01:38Z",
  "published" : "2022-03-03T00:00:49Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-38268" ],
  "summary" : "Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP has incorrect default permissions for site members",
  "details" : "The Dynamic Data Mapping module before 4.0.39 from Liferay Portal 7.0.0 through 7.3.6, and Liferay DXP 7.0 before fix pack 101, 7.1 before fix pack 21, 7.2 before fix pack 10 and 7.3 before fix pack 2 incorrectly sets default permissions for site members, which allows remote authenticated users with the site member role to add and duplicate forms, via the UI or the API.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay:com.liferay.dynamic.data.mapping.service"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "6.0.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.0.10.fp101"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.1.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.1.10.fp21"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.2.10.fp10"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.3.10.fp2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38268"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal/commit/16228425d7395b564f3c4cb5fae0c71c7228202b"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://liferay.atlassian.net/browse/LPE-17150"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://liferay.dev/portal/security/known-vulnerabilities/-/asset_publisher/jekt/content/cve-2021-38268-site-member-can-add-new-forms-by-default?p_r_p_assetEntryId=121611813&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_jekt_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fliferay.dev%3A443%2Fportal%2Fsecurity%2Fknown-vulnerabilities%3Fp_p_id%3Dcom_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_jekt%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_r_p_assetEntryId%3D121611813%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_jekt_cur%3D0%26p_r_p_resetCur%3Dfalse"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-276" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-07-14T22:01:38Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-03-02T19:15:00Z"
  }
}