CVE-2021-20264 (GCVE-0-2021-20264)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2021-10-06 15:12 – Updated: 2024-08-03 17:37
VLAI
Summary
An insecure modification flaw in the /etc/passwd file was found in the openjdk-1.8 and openjdk-11 containers. This flaw allows an attacker with access to the container to modify the /etc/passwd and escalate their privileges. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to confidentiality, integrity, as well as system availability.
Severity
7.8 (High)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CWE
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
n/a containers/openjdk Affected: openjdk 1.8
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2024-08-03T17:37:23.455Z",
          "orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
          "shortName": "CVE"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_MISC",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1932283"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CVE Program Container"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "containers/openjdk",
          "vendor": "n/a",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "openjdk 1.8"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "An insecure modification flaw in the /etc/passwd file was found in the openjdk-1.8 and openjdk-11 containers. This flaw allows an attacker with access to the container to modify the /etc/passwd and escalate their privileges. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to confidentiality, integrity, as well as system availability."
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-266",
              "description": "CWE-266",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2021-10-06T15:12:05.000Z",
        "orgId": "53f830b8-0a3f-465b-8143-3b8a9948e749",
        "shortName": "redhat"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1932283"
        }
      ],
      "x_legacyV4Record": {
        "CVE_data_meta": {
          "ASSIGNER": "secalert@redhat.com",
          "ID": "CVE-2021-20264",
          "STATE": "PUBLIC"
        },
        "affects": {
          "vendor": {
            "vendor_data": [
              {
                "product": {
                  "product_data": [
                    {
                      "product_name": "containers/openjdk",
                      "version": {
                        "version_data": [
                          {
                            "version_value": "openjdk 1.8"
                          }
                        ]
                      }
                    }
                  ]
                },
                "vendor_name": "n/a"
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "data_format": "MITRE",
        "data_type": "CVE",
        "data_version": "4.0",
        "description": {
          "description_data": [
            {
              "lang": "eng",
              "value": "An insecure modification flaw in the /etc/passwd file was found in the openjdk-1.8 and openjdk-11 containers. This flaw allows an attacker with access to the container to modify the /etc/passwd and escalate their privileges. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to confidentiality, integrity, as well as system availability."
            }
          ]
        },
        "problemtype": {
          "problemtype_data": [
            {
              "description": [
                {
                  "lang": "eng",
                  "value": "CWE-266"
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        "references": {
          "reference_data": [
            {
              "name": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1932283",
              "refsource": "MISC",
              "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1932283"
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "53f830b8-0a3f-465b-8143-3b8a9948e749",
    "assignerShortName": "redhat",
    "cveId": "CVE-2021-20264",
    "datePublished": "2021-10-06T15:12:05.000Z",
    "dateReserved": "2020-12-17T00:00:00.000Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2024-08-03T17:37:23.455Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.1",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2021-20264",
      "date": "2026-09-25",
      "epss": "0.00271",
      "percentile": "0.17211"
    },
    "fkie_nvd": {
      "configurations": [
        {
          "nodes": [
            {
              "cpeMatch": [
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:1.8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "matchCriteriaId": "2CA81243-2FC7-481B-AFD8-067E3EC9DF77",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "matchCriteriaId": "465CFA59-8E94-415A-ACF0-E678826813BE",
                  "vulnerable": true
                }
              ],
              "negate": false,
              "operator": "OR"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "An insecure modification flaw in the /etc/passwd file was found in the openjdk-1.8 and openjdk-11 containers. This flaw allows an attacker with access to the container to modify the /etc/passwd and escalate their privileges. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to confidentiality, integrity, as well as system availability."
        },
        {
          "lang": "es",
          "value": "Se ha encontrado un fallo de modificaci\u00f3n no seguro en el archivo /etc/passwd en los contenedores openjdk-1.8 y openjdk-11. Este defecto permite a un atacante con acceso al contenedor modificar el /etc/passwd y escalar sus privilegios. La mayor amenaza de esta vulnerabilidad es para la confidencialidad, la integridad y la disponibilidad del sistema"
        }
      ],
      "id": "CVE-2021-20264",
      "lastModified": "2024-11-21T05:46:14.340",
      "metrics": {
        "cvssMetricV2": [
          {
            "acInsufInfo": false,
            "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
            "cvssData": {
              "accessComplexity": "LOW",
              "accessVector": "LOCAL",
              "authentication": "NONE",
              "availabilityImpact": "PARTIAL",
              "baseScore": 4.6,
              "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL",
              "integrityImpact": "PARTIAL",
              "vectorString": "AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P",
              "version": "2.0"
            },
            "exploitabilityScore": 3.9,
            "impactScore": 6.4,
            "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
            "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
            "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
            "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
            "type": "Primary",
            "userInteractionRequired": false
          }
        ],
        "cvssMetricV31": [
          {
            "cvssData": {
              "attackComplexity": "LOW",
              "attackVector": "LOCAL",
              "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
              "baseScore": 7.8,
              "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
              "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
              "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
              "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
              "scope": "UNCHANGED",
              "userInteraction": "NONE",
              "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
              "version": "3.1"
            },
            "exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
            "impactScore": 5.9,
            "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
            "type": "Primary"
          }
        ]
      },
      "published": "2021-10-06T16:15:07.297",
      "references": [
        {
          "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
          "tags": [
            "Issue Tracking",
            "Third Party Advisory"
          ],
          "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1932283"
        },
        {
          "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
          "tags": [
            "Issue Tracking",
            "Third Party Advisory"
          ],
          "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1932283"
        }
      ],
      "sourceIdentifier": "secalert@redhat.com",
      "vulnStatus": "Modified",
      "weaknesses": [
        {
          "description": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "CWE-266"
            }
          ],
          "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
          "type": "Secondary"
        },
        {
          "description": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "CWE-732"
            }
          ],
          "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
          "type": "Primary"
        }
      ]
    },
    "nvd": {
      "cve": {
        "configurations": [
          {
            "nodes": [
              {
                "cpeMatch": [
                  {
                    "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:1.8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                    "matchCriteriaId": "2CA81243-2FC7-481B-AFD8-067E3EC9DF77",
                    "vulnerable": true
                  },
                  {
                    "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                    "matchCriteriaId": "465CFA59-8E94-415A-ACF0-E678826813BE",
                    "vulnerable": true
                  }
                ],
                "negate": false,
                "operator": "OR"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "cveTags": [],
        "descriptions": [
          {
            "lang": "en",
            "value": "An insecure modification flaw in the /etc/passwd file was found in the openjdk-1.8 and openjdk-11 containers. This flaw allows an attacker with access to the container to modify the /etc/passwd and escalate their privileges. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to confidentiality, integrity, as well as system availability."
          },
          {
            "lang": "es",
            "value": "Se ha encontrado un fallo de modificaci\u00f3n no seguro en el archivo /etc/passwd en los contenedores openjdk-1.8 y openjdk-11. Este defecto permite a un atacante con acceso al contenedor modificar el /etc/passwd y escalar sus privilegios. La mayor amenaza de esta vulnerabilidad es para la confidencialidad, la integridad y la disponibilidad del sistema"
          }
        ],
        "id": "CVE-2021-20264",
        "lastModified": "2024-11-21T05:46:14.340",
        "metrics": {
          "cvssMetricV2": [
            {
              "acInsufInfo": false,
              "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
              "cvssData": {
                "accessComplexity": "LOW",
                "accessVector": "LOCAL",
                "authentication": "NONE",
                "availabilityImpact": "PARTIAL",
                "baseScore": 4.6,
                "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL",
                "integrityImpact": "PARTIAL",
                "vectorString": "AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P",
                "version": "2.0"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 3.9,
              "impactScore": 6.4,
              "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
              "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
              "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
              "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
              "type": "Primary",
              "userInteractionRequired": false
            }
          ],
          "cvssMetricV31": [
            {
              "cvssData": {
                "attackComplexity": "LOW",
                "attackVector": "LOCAL",
                "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "baseScore": 7.8,
                "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
                "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
                "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
                "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
                "scope": "UNCHANGED",
                "userInteraction": "NONE",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
                "version": "3.1"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
              "impactScore": 5.9,
              "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
              "type": "Primary"
            }
          ]
        },
        "published": "2021-10-06T16:15:07.297",
        "references": [
          {
            "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
            "tags": [
              "Issue Tracking",
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1932283"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Issue Tracking",
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1932283"
          }
        ],
        "sourceIdentifier": "secalert@redhat.com",
        "vulnStatus": "Modified",
        "weaknesses": [
          {
            "description": [
              {
                "lang": "en",
                "value": "CWE-266"
              }
            ],
            "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
            "type": "Secondary"
          },
          {
            "description": [
              {
                "lang": "en",
                "value": "CWE-732"
              }
            ],
            "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
            "type": "Primary"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2025-11-21T16:08:52+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2021-20264",
      "id": "CVE-2021-20264",
      "initial_release_date": "2021-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:fixed": "1",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "containers/openjdk: /etc/passwd is given incorrect privileges",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2021/cve-2021-20264.json",
      "version": "3"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.





Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.



Related by attack behaviour

Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.