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CVE-2021-45046

Apache Log4j2 Thread Context Message Pattern and Context Lookup Pattern vulnerable to a denial of service attack

CVSS 3.1 Critical 9.0Known exploited (CISA KEV)

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Description

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.

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 9.0

Score published by CISA-ADP in the CVE record.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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: High

    The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation.

  • 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

Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days.
Score
0.99977 (99.97% probability)
Percentile
99.97%
Scores of
Nov 10, 2026
Model
v2026.06.15

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Name in the catalog
Apache Log4j2 Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability
Added to the catalog
May 1, 2023
Federal due date
May 22, 2023
Ransomware campaigns
Known use

CISA assessment as of Feb 4, 2025

Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA.
Exploitation
Recorded by CISA as active
Automatable
no
Technical impact
total

Weakness (CWE)

CWE catalog version 5.0.
CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See /security/cve/legal for the CWE license.
  • CWE-917Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement

Affected products

Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them.

  • Apache Log4j

    • affected: Apache Log4j2 up to before 2.16.0

References

Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control.

Timeline

  1. ID reserved
  2. Record published
  3. Added to CISA KEV
  4. Record last updated

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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, 19:25 UTC. Sources and licenses