CVE-2021-44790: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-c547-2659-q37g
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-787
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-44790 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2021-44790 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-44790
GHSA Identifier GHSA-c547-2659-q37g
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

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:H/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 High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2021-44790

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-2021-44790, 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-787: Out-of-bounds Write, where the product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. 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

A carefully crafted request body can cause a buffer overflow in the mod_lua multipart parser (r:parsebody() called from Lua scripts). The Apache httpd team is not aware of an exploit for the vulnerabilty though it might be possible to craft one. This issue affects Apache HTTP Server 2.4.51 and earlier.

References

NVD — CVE-2021-44790 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44790
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-03
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-01
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://www.debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5035
support.apple.com/kb/ht213257 WEB
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213257
support.apple.com/kb/ht213256 WEB
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213256
support.apple.com/kb/ht213255 WEB
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213255
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20211224-0001
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-20
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/Z7H26WJ6TPKNWV3QKY4BHKUKQVUTZJTD
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/X73C35MMMZGBVPQQCH7LQZUMYZNQA5FO
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/RGWILBORT67SHMSLYSQZG2NMXGCMPUZO
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BFSWOH4X77CV7AH7C4RMHUBDWKQDL4YH
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/Z7H26WJ6TPKNWV3QKY4BHKUKQVUTZJTD
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/X73C35MMMZGBVPQQCH7LQZUMYZNQA5FO
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/RGWILBORT67SHMSLYSQZG2NMXGCMPUZO
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BFSWOH4X77CV7AH7C4RMHUBDWKQDL4YH
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://httpd.apache.org/security/vulnerabilities_24.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171631/Apache-2.4.x-Buffer-Overflow.html
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022... WEB
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/33
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022... WEB
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/35
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022... WEB
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/38
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/12/20/4

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-44790?
CVE-2021-44790 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2021-44790?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-44790?
CVE-2021-44790 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-44790?
CVE-2021-44790 is classified under CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write (The product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-44790?
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-c547-2659-q37g",
  "modified" : "2025-05-01T18:31:41Z",
  "published" : "2022-02-08T00:00:56Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-44790" ],
  "details" : "A carefully crafted request body can cause a buffer overflow in the mod_lua multipart parser (r:parsebody() called from Lua scripts). The Apache httpd team is not aware of an exploit for the vulnerabilty though it might be possible to craft one. This issue affects Apache HTTP Server 2.4.51 and earlier.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44790"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-03"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-01"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5035"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213257"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213256"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213255"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20211224-0001"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-20"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/Z7H26WJ6TPKNWV3QKY4BHKUKQVUTZJTD"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/X73C35MMMZGBVPQQCH7LQZUMYZNQA5FO"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/RGWILBORT67SHMSLYSQZG2NMXGCMPUZO"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BFSWOH4X77CV7AH7C4RMHUBDWKQDL4YH"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/Z7H26WJ6TPKNWV3QKY4BHKUKQVUTZJTD"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/X73C35MMMZGBVPQQCH7LQZUMYZNQA5FO"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/RGWILBORT67SHMSLYSQZG2NMXGCMPUZO"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BFSWOH4X77CV7AH7C4RMHUBDWKQDL4YH"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://httpd.apache.org/security/vulnerabilities_24.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171631/Apache-2.4.x-Buffer-Overflow.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/33"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/35"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/38"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/12/20/4"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-787" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-12-20T12:15:00Z"
  }
}