CVE-2022-23305: Log4j SQL Injection Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-65fg-84f6-3jq3
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-89
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2022-23305 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) sql injection vulnerability (CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')) affecting Log4j libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves sql injection in log4j 1.2.x. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2022-23305 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2022-23305
GHSA Identifier GHSA-65fg-84f6-3jq3
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Affected Product Log4j
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-2022-23305

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Log4j dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

log4j:log4j fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>log4j</groupId>
    <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons:log4j-1.2.17 fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons</groupId>
    <artifactId>log4j-1.2.17</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</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=log4j

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2022-23305, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=log4j

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Log4j 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 -Dincludes=log4j 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-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an sql command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended sql command when it is sent to a downstream component. without sufficient removal or quoting of sql syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated sql query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as sql instead of ordinary user data. In Log4j, 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

By design, the JDBCAppender in Log4j 1.2.x accepts an SQL statement as a configuration parameter where the values to be inserted are converters from PatternLayout. The message converter, %m, is likely to always be included. This allows attackers to manipulate the SQL by entering crafted strings into input fields or headers of an application that are logged allowing unintended SQL queries to be executed. Note this issue only affects Log4j 1.x when specifically configured to use the JDBCAppender, which is not the default. Beginning in version 2.0-beta8, the JDBCAppender was re-introduced with proper support for parameterized SQL queries and further customization over the columns written to in logs. Apache Log4j 1.2 reached end of life in August 2015. Users should upgrade to Log4j 2 as it addresses numerous other issues from the previous versions.

CVE-2022-23305 Affected Log4j Versions

2 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
log4j:log4j
maven/log4j/log4j
Maven
≤ 1.2.17
org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons:log4j-1.2.17
maven/org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons/log4j-1.2.17
Maven
≤ 2.0

References

Log4j Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html
Log4j Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/01/18/4
NVD — CVE-2022-23305 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23305
Log4j Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/logging-log4j1
lists.apache.org/thread/pt6lh3pbsvxq... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/pt6lh3pbsvxqlwlp4c5l798dv2hkc85y
logging.apache.org/log4j/1.2/index.htm... WEB
https://logging.apache.org/log4j/1.2/index.html
Log4j Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220217-0007
Log4j Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-23305?
CVE-2022-23305 is a security vulnerability in Log4j involving SQL Injection in Log4j 1.2.x under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection').
Which Log4j versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: log4j:log4j, org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons:log4j-1.2.17.
What version fixes CVE-2022-23305?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is log4j affected?
Yes, log4j:log4j is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
Is log4j-1.2.17 affected?
Yes, org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons:log4j-1.2.17 is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-23305?
CVE-2022-23305 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-2022-23305?
CVE-2022-23305 is classified under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. Without sufficient removal or quoting of SQL syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated SQL query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as SQL instead of ordinary user data.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2022-23305?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=log4j'. 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-65fg-84f6-3jq3",
  "modified" : "2026-06-08T23:39:52Z",
  "published" : "2022-01-21T23:26:47Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-23305" ],
  "summary" : "SQL Injection in Log4j 1.2.x",
  "details" : "By design, the JDBCAppender in Log4j 1.2.x accepts an SQL statement as a configuration parameter where the values to be inserted are converters from PatternLayout. The message converter, %m, is likely to always be included. This allows attackers to manipulate the SQL by entering crafted strings into input fields or headers of an application that are logged allowing unintended SQL queries to be executed. Note this issue only affects Log4j 1.x when specifically configured to use the JDBCAppender, which is not the default. Beginning in version 2.0-beta8, the JDBCAppender was re-introduced with proper support for parameterized SQL queries and further customization over the columns written to in logs. Apache Log4j 1.2 reached end of life in August 2015. Users should upgrade to Log4j 2 as it addresses numerous other issues from the previous versions.",
  "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" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "log4j:log4j"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.2.17"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons:log4j-1.2.17"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "2.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23305"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/logging-log4j1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/pt6lh3pbsvxqlwlp4c5l798dv2hkc85y"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://logging.apache.org/log4j/1.2/index.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220217-0007"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/01/18/4"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-89" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-01-19T22:31:49Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-01-18T16:15:00Z"
  }
}