Vulnerabilities in pkg:maven/com.liferay/com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web

PACKAGE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-22wc-7wmm-v4cc
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Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-33327 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.3) liferay portal and liferay dxp vulnerability (CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions) affecting Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves liferay portal and liferay dxp does not properly check user permission. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.0.13, 7.0.10.fp95, 7.1.10.fp19, 7.2.10.fp8.

1 Known Advisory Record(s)
Package Vulnerability Intelligence

pkg:maven/com.liferay/com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web

1 Known Advisory Record(s)

Vulnerability advisories affecting package pkg:maven/com.liferay/com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web. Select an advisory below to view technical details or fixes.

Advisory ID CVE / NVD Severity Summary
GHSA-22wc-7wmm-v4cc CVE-2021-33327 MODERATE Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP does not properly check user permission

CVE-2021-33327 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-33327
GHSA Identifier GHSA-22wc-7wmm-v4cc
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.3
CWE Classification CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions
Affected Product Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.3

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2021-33327

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

com.liferay:com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web fixed: 4.0.13 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay</groupId>
    <artifactId>com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web</artifactId>
    <version>4.0.13</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.0.10.fp95 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.0.10.fp95</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.1.10.fp19 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.1.10.fp19</version>
</dependency>
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom fixed: 7.2.10.fp8 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.liferay.portal</groupId>
    <artifactId>release.dxp.bom</artifactId>
    <version>7.2.10.fp8</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=com.liferay

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2021-33327, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferay

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.0.13), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferay 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-276: Incorrect Default Permissions, where during installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files. In Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web, 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

The Portlet Configuration module before 4.0.13 in Liferay Portal 7.2.0 through 7.3.3, and Liferay DXP 7.0 fix pack pack 93 and 94, 7.1 fix pack 18, and 7.2 before fix pack 8, does not properly check user permission, which allows remote authenticated users to view the Guest and User role even if "Role Visibility" is enabled.

CVE-2021-33327 Affected Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.0.137.0.10.fp957.1.10.fp197.2.10.fp8
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
com.liferay:com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web
maven/com.liferay/com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web
Maven
< 4.0.13
4.0.13
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
maven/com.liferay.portal/release.dxp.bom
Maven
≥ 7.0.10.fp93
< 7.0.10.fp95
7.0.10.fp95
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
maven/com.liferay.portal/release.dxp.bom
Maven
≥ 7.1.10.fp18
< 7.1.10.fp19
7.1.10.fp19
com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom
maven/com.liferay.portal/release.dxp.bom
Maven
≥ 7.2.0
< 7.2.10.fp8
7.2.10.fp8

References

NVD — CVE-2021-33327 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-33327
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal/commit/44317eb5274d24bb91c43c91cd5c678392eb9eeb
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal/commit/9e1628110ca5f0b7b867e1f55e3886c92fc67ca1
Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal
issues.liferay.com/browse/lpe-17075 WEB
https://issues.liferay.com/browse/LPE-17075
Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web Security Information SECURITY
https://liferay.dev/portal/security/known-vulnerabilities/-/asset_publisher/jekt/content/cve-2021-33327-unauthorized-users-can-view-the-guest-and-user-roles?p_r_p_assetEntryId=121611305&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_jekt_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fliferay.dev%3A443%2Fportal%2Fsecurity%2Fknown-vulnerabilities%3Fp_p_id%3Dcom_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_jekt%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_r_p_assetEntryId%3D121611305%26p_r_p_resetCur%3Dfalse%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_jekt_cur%3D0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-33327?
CVE-2021-33327 is a security vulnerability in Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web involving Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP does not properly check user permission under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions.
Which Com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.0.13, 7.0.10.fp95, 7.1.10.fp19, 7.2.10.fp8 across affected packages: com.liferay:com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web, com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom.
What version fixes CVE-2021-33327?
Upgrading to 4.0.13, 7.0.10.fp95, 7.1.10.fp19, 7.2.10.fp8 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web affected?
Yes, com.liferay:com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web is affected in releases prior to 4.0.13. Upgrade your dependency to 4.0.13 or later.
Is release.dxp.bom affected?
Yes, com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom is affected in releases prior to 7.0.10.fp95, 7.1.10.fp19, 7.2.10.fp8. Upgrade your dependency to 7.0.10.fp95, 7.1.10.fp19, 7.2.10.fp8 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-33327?
CVE-2021-33327 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-33327?
CVE-2021-33327 is classified under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions (During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-33327?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.liferay'. 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-22wc-7wmm-v4cc",
  "modified" : "2025-06-27T21:07:40Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T19:09:46Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-33327" ],
  "summary" : "Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP does not properly check user permission",
  "details" : "The Portlet Configuration module before 4.0.13 in Liferay Portal 7.2.0 through 7.3.3, and Liferay DXP 7.0 fix pack pack 93 and 94, 7.1 fix pack 18, and 7.2 before fix pack 8, does not properly check user permission, which allows remote authenticated users to view the Guest and User role even if \"Role Visibility\" is enabled.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay:com.liferay.portlet.configuration.web"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.0.13"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.0.10.fp93"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.0.10.fp95"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.1.10.fp18"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.1.10.fp19"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.liferay.portal:release.dxp.bom"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "7.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "7.2.10.fp8"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-33327"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal/commit/44317eb5274d24bb91c43c91cd5c678392eb9eeb"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal/commit/9e1628110ca5f0b7b867e1f55e3886c92fc67ca1"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/liferay/liferay-portal"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.liferay.com/browse/LPE-17075"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://liferay.dev/portal/security/known-vulnerabilities/-/asset_publisher/jekt/content/cve-2021-33327-unauthorized-users-can-view-the-guest-and-user-roles?p_r_p_assetEntryId=121611305&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_jekt_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fliferay.dev%3A443%2Fportal%2Fsecurity%2Fknown-vulnerabilities%3Fp_p_id%3Dcom_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_jekt%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_r_p_assetEntryId%3D121611305%26p_r_p_resetCur%3Dfalse%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_jekt_cur%3D0"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-276" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-06-27T21:07:40Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-08-03T19:15:00Z"
  }
}