CVE-2021-44228
Apache Log4j2 JNDI features do not protect against attacker controlled LDAP and other JNDI related endpoints
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description
Apache Log4j2 2.0-beta9 through 2.15.0 (excluding security releases 2.12.2, 2.12.3, and 2.3.1) JNDI features used in configuration, log messages, and parameters do not protect against attacker controlled LDAP and other JNDI related endpoints. An attacker who can control log messages or log message parameters can execute arbitrary code loaded from LDAP servers when message lookup substitution is enabled. From log4j 2.15.0, this behavior has been disabled by default. From version 2.16.0 (along with 2.12.2, 2.12.3, and 2.3.1), this functionality has been completely removed. Note that this vulnerability is specific to log4j-core and does not affect log4net, log4cxx, or other Apache Logging Services projects.
Official description from the CVE record, published by apache. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See /security/cve/legal for the CVE license. View the record on cve.org
Key data
CVSS 3.1 Critical 10.0
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector: Network
The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet.
Attack complexity: Low
No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.
Privileges required: None
No account or privileges are needed.
User interaction: None
No action from any user is needed.
Scope: Changed
The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.
Confidentiality impact: High
Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact: High
Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact: High
Serious or total effect on availability.
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. |
| Attack complexity | Low | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will. |
| Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. |
| User interaction | None | No action from any user is needed. |
| Scope | Changed | The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one. |
| Confidentiality impact | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. |
| Integrity impact | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. |
| Availability impact | High | Serious or total effect on availability. |
CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at first.org/cvss.
EPSS
- Score
- 0.99999 (99.99% probability)
- Percentile
- 99.99%
- Scores of
- Nov 10, 2026
- Model
- v2026.06.15
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
- Name in the catalog
- Apache Log4j2 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- Added to the catalog
- Dec 10, 2021
- Federal due date
- Dec 24, 2021
- Ransomware campaigns
- Known use
CISA assessment as of Feb 4, 2025
- Exploitation
- Recorded by CISA as active
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- total
Weakness (CWE)
Affected products
Apache Log4j2
- affected: 2.0-beta9 up to before log4j-core*
References
- logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/security.html
- [oss-security] 20211210 CVE-2021-44228: Apache Log4j2 JNDI features do not protect against attacker controlled LDAP and other JNDI related endpoints (openwall.com)mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20211210 Re: CVE-2021-44228: Apache Log4j2 JNDI features do not protect against attacker controlled LDAP and other JNDI related endpoints (openwall.com)mailing-list
- 20211210 Vulnerability in Apache Log4j Library Affecting Cisco Products: December 2021 (tools.cisco.com)vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20211210 Re: CVE-2021-44228: Apache Log4j2 JNDI features do not protect against attacker controlled LDAP and other JNDI related endpoints (openwall.com)mailing-list
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20211210-0007
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165225/Apache-Log4j2-2.14.1-R…
- psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2021-0032
- oracle.com/security-alerts/alert-cve-2021-44228.html
- DSA-5020 (debian.org)vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20211212 [SECURITY] [DLA 2842-1] apache-log4j2 security update (lists.debian.org)mailing-list
- FEDORA-2021-f0f501d01f (lists.fedoraproject.org)vendor-advisory
- Microsoft’s Response to CVE-2021-44228 Apache Log4j 2 (msrc-blog.microsoft.com)vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20211213 Re: CVE-2021-4104: Deserialization of untrusted data in JMSAppender in Apache Log4j 1.2 (openwall.com)mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20211213 CVE-2021-4104: Deserialization of untrusted data in JMSAppender in Apache Log4j 1.2 (openwall.com)mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20211214 CVE-2021-45046: Apache Log4j2 Thread Context Message Pattern and Context Lookup Pattern vulnerable to a denial of service attack (openwall.com)mailing-list
- VU#930724 (kb.cert.org)third-party-advisory
- twitter.com/kurtseifried/status/1469345530182455296
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-661247.pdf
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165260/VMware-Security-Adviso…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165270/Apache-Log4j2-2.14.1-R…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165261/Apache-Log4j2-2.14.1-I…
- intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-…
- [oss-security] 20211215 Re: CVE-2021-45046: Apache Log4j2 Thread Context Message Pattern and Context Lookup Pattern vulnerable to a denial of service attack (openwall.com)mailing-list
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165282/Log4j-Payload-Generato…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165281/Log4j2-Log4Shell-Regex…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165307/Log4j-Remote-Code-Exec…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165311/log4j-scan-Extensive-S…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165306/L4sh-Log4j-Remote-Code…
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-714170.pdf
- FEDORA-2021-66d6c484f3 (lists.fedoraproject.org)vendor-advisory
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165371/VMware-Security-Adviso…
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-397453.pdf
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-479842.pdf
- oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165532/Log4Shell-HTTP-Header-…
- github.com/cisagov/log4j-affected-db/blob/develop/SOFTWARE-…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165642/VMware-vCenter-Server-…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/165673/UniFi-Network-Applicat…
- 20220314 APPLE-SA-2022-03-14-7 Xcode 13.3 (seclists.org)mailing-list
- bentley.com/en/common-vulnerability-exposure/be-2022-0001
- github.com/cisagov/log4j-affected-db
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213189
- oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
- github.com/nu11secur1ty/CVE-mitre/tree/main/CVE-2021-44228
- nu11secur1ty.com/2021/12/cve-2021-44228.html
- 20220721 Open-Xchange Security Advisory 2022-07-21 (seclists.org)mailing-list
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/167794/Open-Xchange-App-Suite…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/167917/MobileIron-Log4Shell-R…
- 20221208 Intel Data Center Manager <= 5.1 Local Privileges Escalation (seclists.org)mailing-list
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/171626/AD-Manager-Plus-7122-R…
Timeline
- ID reserved
- Record published
- Added to CISA KEV
- Record last updated
Look up another CVE
About CubePath
Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:53 UTC. Sources and licenses