CVE-2021-45046
CRITICALCISA KEVEPSS 100th pctlDescription
It was found that the fix to address CVE-2021-44228 in Apache Log4j 2.15.0 was incomplete in certain non-default configurations. This could allows attackers with control over Thread Context Map (MDC) input data when the logging configuration uses a non-default Pattern Layout with either a Context Lookup (for example, $${ctx:loginId}) or a Thread Context Map pattern (%X, %mdc, or %MDC) to craft malicious input data using a JNDI Lookup pattern resulting in an information leak and remote code execution in some environments and local code execution in all environments. Log4j 2.16.0 (Java 8) and 2.12.2 (Java 7) fix this issue by removing support for message lookup patterns and disabling JNDI functionality by default.
CVSS v3 Vector
Exploitability
Impact
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Exploit Intelligence
Very high risk: more likely to be exploited than 100% of all known CVEs.
Apache Log4j2 Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability
Apache Log4j2 contains a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability due to the incomplete fix of CVE-2021-44228, where the Thread Context Lookup Pattern is vulnerable to remote code execution in certain non-default configurations.
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Remediation due: 2023-05-22
Associated with ransomware campaigns
References
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/12/14/4
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/12/15/3
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/12/18/1
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-397453.pdf
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-479842.pdf
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-661247.pdf
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-714170.pdf
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/EOKPQGV24RRBBI4TBZUDQMM4MEH7MXCY/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/SIG7FZULMNK2XF6FZRU4VWYDQXNMUGAJ/
- https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/security.html
- https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2021-0032
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202310-16
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-apache-log4j-qRuKNEbd
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-44228
- https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-5022
- https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00646.html
- https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/930724
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/alert-cve-2021-44228.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-45046
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Start freeThis product uses NVD data but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS scores courtesy of FIRST.org (https://www.first.org/epss). Source: CISA KEV Catalog. Data as of 2025-10-27.