Vulnerabilities in pkg:maven/org.apache.flink/flink-runtime

PACKAGE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-7q5g-gph2-4rc6
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Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-17518 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) upload of file to arbitrary vulnerability (CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal) affecting Flink runtime libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves upload of file to arbitrary path in apache flink. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.11.3.

1 Known Advisory Record(s)
Package Vulnerability Intelligence

pkg:maven/org.apache.flink/flink-runtime

1 Known Advisory Record(s)

Vulnerability advisories affecting package pkg:maven/org.apache.flink/flink-runtime. Select an advisory below to view technical details or fixes.

Advisory ID CVE / NVD Severity Summary
GHSA-7q5g-gph2-4rc6 CVE-2020-17518 HIGH Upload of file to arbitrary path in Apache Flink

CVE-2020-17518 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-17518
GHSA Identifier GHSA-7q5g-gph2-4rc6
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal
Affected Product Flink runtime
Package Ecosystem Maven
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:H/A:N).

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 High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2020-17518

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Flink runtime 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.flink:flink-runtime fixed: 1.11.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.flink</groupId>
    <artifactId>flink-runtime</artifactId>
    <version>1.11.3</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.flink

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2020-17518, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Flink runtime in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.11.3), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.flink 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-23: Relative Path Traversal, where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that should be within a restricted directory, but it does not properly neutralize sequences such as ".." that can resolve to a location that is outside of that directory. In Flink runtime, 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

Apache Flink 1.5.1 introduced a REST handler that allows you to write an uploaded file to an arbitrary location on the local file system, through a maliciously modified HTTP HEADER. The files can be written to any location accessible by Flink 1.5.1. All users should upgrade to Flink 1.11.3 or 1.12.0 if their Flink instance(s) are exposed. The issue was fixed in commit a5264a6f41524afe8ceadf1d8ddc8c80f323ebc4 from apache/flink:master.

CVE-2020-17518 Affected Flink runtime Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.11.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.flink:flink-runtime
maven/org.apache.flink/flink-runtime
Maven
≥ 1.5.1
< 1.11.3
1.11.3

References

NVD — CVE-2020-17518 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-17518
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/flink/commit/a5264a6f41524afe8ceadf1d8ddc8c80f323ebc4
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfe159c... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfe159ccf496d75813f24c6079c5d33872d83f5a2e39cb32c3aef5a73@%3Cissues.flink.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf8812a... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf8812a5703f4a5f1341138baf239258b250875699732cfdf9d55b21d@%3Cissues.flink.apache.org%3E
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https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd2467344f88bcaf108b8209ca92da8ec393c68174bfb8c27d1e20faa@%3Cdev.flink.apache.org%3E
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lists.apache.org/thread.html/r229167... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r229167538863518738e02f4c1c5a8bb34c1d45dadcc97adf6676b0c1@%3Cdev.flink.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1125f3044a0946d1e7e6f125a6170b58d413ebd4a95157e4608041c7@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r0b000d... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r0b000dc028616d33cb9aa388eb45d516b789cab0024dad94bc06588a@%3Cissues.flink.apache.org%3E
Flink runtime Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/01/05/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-17518?
CVE-2020-17518 is a security vulnerability in Flink runtime involving Upload of file to arbitrary path in Apache Flink under CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal.
Which Flink runtime versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.11.3 across affected packages: org.apache.flink:flink-runtime.
What version fixes CVE-2020-17518?
Upgrading to 1.11.3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is flink-runtime affected?
Yes, org.apache.flink:flink-runtime is affected in releases prior to 1.11.3. Upgrade your dependency to 1.11.3 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-17518?
CVE-2020-17518 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:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-17518?
CVE-2020-17518 is classified under CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal (The product uses external input to construct a pathname that should be within a restricted directory, but it does not properly neutralize sequences such as ".." that can resolve to a location that is outside of that directory.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-17518?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.flink'. 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-7q5g-gph2-4rc6",
  "modified" : "2021-04-07T18:02:24Z",
  "published" : "2022-02-09T22:29:52Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-17518" ],
  "summary" : "Upload of file to arbitrary path in Apache Flink",
  "details" : "Apache Flink 1.5.1 introduced a REST handler that allows you to write an uploaded file to an arbitrary location on the local file system, through a maliciously modified HTTP HEADER. The files can be written to any location accessible by Flink 1.5.1. All users should upgrade to Flink 1.11.3 or 1.12.0 if their Flink instance(s) are exposed. The issue was fixed in commit a5264a6f41524afe8ceadf1d8ddc8c80f323ebc4 from apache/flink:master.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.flink:flink-runtime"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.5.1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.11.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-17518"
  }, {
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  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22", "CWE-23" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-04-07T18:02:24Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-01-05T12:15:00Z"
  }
}