CVE-2021-41973: Mina core Infinite Loop Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6mcm-j9cj-3vc3
Share
CVSS 6.5
CWE-835
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-41973 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) infinite loop vulnerability (CWE-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')) affecting Mina core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves infinite loop in apache mina. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.1.5, 2.0.22.

CVE-2021-41973 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-41973
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6mcm-j9cj-3vc3
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')
Affected Product Mina core
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:N/UI:R/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 Required (UI:R)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2021-41973

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Mina core 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.apache.mina:mina-core fixed: 2.1.5 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.mina</groupId>
    <artifactId>mina-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.1.5</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.mina:mina-core fixed: 2.0.22 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.mina</groupId>
    <artifactId>mina-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.0.22</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.apache.mina

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2021-41973, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.mina

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Mina core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.1.5), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.mina 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-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop'), where the product contains an iteration or loop with an exit condition that cannot be reached, i.e., an infinite loop. In Mina core, 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

In Apache MINA, a specifically crafted, malformed HTTP request may cause the HTTP Header decoder to loop indefinitely. The decoder assumed that the HTTP Header begins at the beginning of the buffer and loops if there is more data than expected. Please update MINA to 2.1.5 or greater.

CVE-2021-41973 Affected Mina core Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.1.52.0.22
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.mina:mina-core
maven/org.apache.mina/mina-core
Maven
≥ 2.1.0
< 2.1.5
2.1.5
org.apache.mina:mina-core
maven/org.apache.mina/mina-core
Maven
< 2.0.22
2.0.22

References

NVD — CVE-2021-41973 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41973
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r0b907d... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r0b907da9340d5ff4e6c1a4798ef4e79700a668657f27cca8a39e9250%40%3Cdev.mina.apache.org%3E
Mina core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
Mina core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/11/01/2
Mina core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/11/01/8

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-41973?
CVE-2021-41973 is a security vulnerability in Mina core involving Infinite loop in Apache MINA under CWE-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop').
Which Mina core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.1.5, 2.0.22 across affected packages: org.apache.mina:mina-core.
What version fixes CVE-2021-41973?
Upgrading to 2.1.5, 2.0.22 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is mina-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.mina:mina-core is affected in releases prior to 2.1.5, 2.0.22. Upgrade your dependency to 2.1.5, 2.0.22 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-41973?
CVE-2021-41973 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-41973?
CVE-2021-41973 is classified under CWE-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop') (The product contains an iteration or loop with an exit condition that cannot be reached, i.e., an infinite loop.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-41973?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.mina'. 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-6mcm-j9cj-3vc3",
  "modified" : "2021-11-03T14:49:19Z",
  "published" : "2021-11-03T17:30:35Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-41973" ],
  "summary" : "Infinite loop in Apache MINA",
  "details" : "In Apache MINA, a specifically crafted, malformed HTTP request may cause the HTTP Header decoder to loop indefinitely. The decoder assumed that the HTTP Header begins at the beginning of the buffer and loops if there is more data than expected. Please update MINA to 2.1.5 or greater.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.mina:mina-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.1.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.1.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.mina:mina-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.0.22"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41973"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r0b907da9340d5ff4e6c1a4798ef4e79700a668657f27cca8a39e9250%40%3Cdev.mina.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/11/01/2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/11/01/8"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-835" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-11-02T19:48:48Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-11-01T09:15:00Z"
  }
}