CVE-2021-4136: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-85p4-xh3v-w37r
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CVSS 7.8
CWE-122 CWE-787
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-4136 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.8) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when a heap overflow condition is a buffer overflow, where the buffer that can be overwritten is allocated in the heap portion of memory, generally meaning that the buffer was allocated using a routine such as malloc().. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2021-4136 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-4136
GHSA Identifier GHSA-85p4-xh3v-w37r
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.8
CWE Classification CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow
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:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

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

How to Fix CVE-2021-4136

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-2021-4136, 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-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow, where a heap overflow condition is a buffer overflow, where the buffer that can be overwritten is allocated in the heap portion of memory, generally meaning that the buffer was allocated using a routine such as malloc(). 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

vim is vulnerable to Heap-based Buffer Overflow

References

NVD — CVE-2021-4136 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-4136
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/605ec91e5a7330d61be313637e495fa02a6dc264
huntr.dev/bounties/5c6b93c1-2... WEB
https://huntr.dev/bounties/5c6b93c1-2d27-4e98-a931-147877b8c938
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2EY2VFBU3YGGWI5BW4XKT3F37MYGEQUD
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/3FH2J57GDA2WMBS6J56F6QQRA6BXQQFZ
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2EY2VFBU3YGGWI5BW4XKT3F37MYGEQUD
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/3FH2J57GDA2WMBS6J56F6QQRA6BXQQFZ
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-32
support.apple.com/kb/ht213183 WEB
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213183
support.apple.com/kb/ht213256 WEB
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213256
support.apple.com/kb/ht213343 WEB
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213343
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022... WEB
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Jul/14
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022... WEB
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Mar/29
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022... WEB
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/35
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/01/15/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-4136?
CVE-2021-4136 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2021-4136?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-4136?
CVE-2021-4136 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-4136?
CVE-2021-4136 is classified under CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow (A heap overflow condition is a buffer overflow, where the buffer that can be overwritten is allocated in the heap portion of memory, generally meaning that the buffer was allocated using a routine such as malloc().).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-4136?
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-85p4-xh3v-w37r",
  "modified" : "2026-10-09T00:31:13Z",
  "published" : "2021-12-20T00:00:39Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-4136" ],
  "details" : "vim is vulnerable to Heap-based Buffer Overflow",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-4136"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/vim/vim/commit/605ec91e5a7330d61be313637e495fa02a6dc264"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://huntr.dev/bounties/5c6b93c1-2d27-4e98-a931-147877b8c938"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2EY2VFBU3YGGWI5BW4XKT3F37MYGEQUD"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/3FH2J57GDA2WMBS6J56F6QQRA6BXQQFZ"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2EY2VFBU3YGGWI5BW4XKT3F37MYGEQUD"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/3FH2J57GDA2WMBS6J56F6QQRA6BXQQFZ"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-32"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213183"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213256"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213343"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Jul/14"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Mar/29"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/35"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/01/15/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-122", "CWE-787" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-12-19T17:15:00Z"
  }
}