CVE-2021-40143: Nexus repository HTTP Header Injection Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-f34x-8pf6-qc9c
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CVSS 8.2
CWE-74
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-40143 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.2) http header injection vulnerability (CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')) affecting Nexus repository libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves http header injection in sonatype nexus repository. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.34.0-01.

CVE-2021-40143 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-40143
GHSA Identifier GHSA-f34x-8pf6-qc9c
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.2
CWE Classification CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
Affected Product Nexus repository
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.2

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:H/I:L/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2021-40143

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Nexus repository 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.sonatype.nexus:nexus-repository fixed: 3.34.0-01 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.sonatype.nexus</groupId>
    <artifactId>nexus-repository</artifactId>
    <version>3.34.0-01</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.sonatype.nexus

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2021-40143, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.sonatype.nexus

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Nexus repository in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.34.0-01), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.sonatype.nexus 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-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component. In Nexus repository, 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

Sonatype Nexus Repository 3.x through 3.33.1-01 is vulnerable to an HTTP header injection. By sending a crafted HTTP request, a remote attacker may disclose sensitive information or request external resources from a vulnerable instance.

CVE-2021-40143 Affected Nexus repository Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.34.0-01
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.sonatype.nexus:nexus-repository
maven/org.sonatype.nexus/nexus-repository
Maven
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.34.0-01
3.34.0-01

References

NVD — CVE-2021-40143 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-40143
Nexus repository Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/sonatype/nexus-public
help.sonatype.com/repomanager3/releas... WEB
https://help.sonatype.com/repomanager3/release-notes/2021-release-notes
issues.sonatype.org/secure/releasenote.... WEB
https://issues.sonatype.org/secure/ReleaseNote.jspa
support.sonatype.com/hc/en-us/articles/4... WEB
https://support.sonatype.com/hc/en-us/articles/4405941762579

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-40143?
CVE-2021-40143 is a security vulnerability in Nexus repository involving HTTP header injection in Sonatype Nexus Repository under CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection').
Which Nexus repository versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.34.0-01 across affected packages: org.sonatype.nexus:nexus-repository.
What version fixes CVE-2021-40143?
Upgrading to 3.34.0-01 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is nexus-repository affected?
Yes, org.sonatype.nexus:nexus-repository is affected in releases prior to 3.34.0-01. Upgrade your dependency to 3.34.0-01 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-40143?
CVE-2021-40143 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.2 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-40143?
CVE-2021-40143 is classified under CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-40143?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.sonatype.nexus'. 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-f34x-8pf6-qc9c",
  "modified" : "2021-09-15T18:27:54Z",
  "published" : "2021-09-08T17:42:18Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-40143" ],
  "summary" : "HTTP header injection in Sonatype Nexus Repository",
  "details" : "Sonatype Nexus Repository 3.x through 3.33.1-01 is vulnerable to an HTTP header injection. By sending a crafted HTTP request, a remote attacker may disclose sensitive information or request external resources from a vulnerable instance.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.sonatype.nexus:nexus-repository"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.34.0-01"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 3.33.1-01"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-40143"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/sonatype/nexus-public"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://help.sonatype.com/repomanager3/release-notes/2021-release-notes"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.sonatype.org/secure/ReleaseNote.jspa"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://support.sonatype.com/hc/en-us/articles/4405941762579"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-74" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-09-08T17:35:50Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-09-07T20:15:00Z"
  }
}