CVE-2021-43045: Apache.Avro Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-868x-rg4c-cjqg
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-770
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-43045 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling) affecting Apache.Avro libraries in the NuGet ecosystem. The issue involves allocation of resources without limits or throttling in apache avro. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.11.0.

CVE-2021-43045 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-43045
GHSA Identifier GHSA-868x-rg4c-cjqg
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling
Affected Product Apache.Avro
Package Ecosystem NuGet
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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:N/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 None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2021-43045

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

Apache.Avro fixed: 1.11.0 
Upgrade Apache.Avro to 1.11.0
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for Apache.Avro

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2021-43045, inspect your project dependencies for Apache.Avro:

inspect dependencies for Apache.Avro

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apache.Avro in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.11.0), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling, where the product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any intended restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated. In Apache.Avro, 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 vulnerability in the .NET SDK of Apache Avro allows an attacker to allocate excessive resources, potentially causing a denial-of-service attack. This issue affects .NET applications using Apache Avro version 1.10.2 and prior versions. Users should update to version 1.11.0 which addresses this issue.

CVE-2021-43045 Affected Apache.Avro Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.11.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
Apache.Avro
nuget/Apache.Avro
NuGet
< 1.11.0
1.11.0

References

NVD — CVE-2021-43045 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-43045
Apache.Avro Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/avro/pull/1357
Apache.Avro Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/avro
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/avro-32... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/AVRO-3225
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/avro-32... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/AVRO-3226
lists.apache.org/thread/5fttw9vk6gd2... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/5fttw9vk6gd2p3b846nox7hcj5469xfd
Apache.Avro Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/01/06/8

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-43045?
CVE-2021-43045 is a security vulnerability in Apache.Avro involving Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling in Apache Avro under CWE-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling.
Which Apache.Avro versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.11.0 across affected packages: Apache.Avro.
What version fixes CVE-2021-43045?
Upgrading to 1.11.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is Apache.Avro affected?
Yes, Apache.Avro is affected in releases prior to 1.11.0. Upgrade your dependency to 1.11.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-43045?
CVE-2021-43045 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-43045?
CVE-2021-43045 is classified under CWE-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling (The product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any intended restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated.).
How can I check NuGet dependencies for CVE-2021-43045?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for Apache.Avro'. 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-868x-rg4c-cjqg",
  "modified" : "2023-09-26T20:26:04Z",
  "published" : "2022-01-08T00:39:20Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-43045" ],
  "summary" : "Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling in Apache Avro",
  "details" : "A vulnerability in the .NET SDK of Apache Avro allows an attacker to allocate excessive resources, potentially causing a denial-of-service attack. This issue affects .NET applications using Apache Avro version 1.10.2 and prior versions. Users should update to version 1.11.0 which addresses this issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "NuGet",
      "name" : "Apache.Avro"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.11.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-43045"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/avro/pull/1357"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/avro"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/AVRO-3225"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/AVRO-3226"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/5fttw9vk6gd2p3b846nox7hcj5469xfd"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/01/06/8"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-770" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-01-07T22:36:54Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-01-06T18:15:00Z"
  }
}