CVE-2021-45046
CriticalExploitedPublic exploitIncomplete fix for Apache Log4j vulnerability
Published Dec 14, 2021 · Updated Oct 2, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2021-45046, DSA-5022-1, GHSA-7rjr-3q55-vv33, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-45046
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2021-45046 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.0 v3.1) affecting Log4j (Apache), Computer Vision Annotation Tool (Cvat), Audio Development Kit (Intel) and 22 more products.
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Dec 6, 2021 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 100% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including Log4j 2.12.2, Log4j 2.16.0, Log4j 2.13.0-4.6.1.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
9.0
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
100%
Higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings, used by ransomware
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2021-45046 brief as a PDF
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
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.
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | May 1, 2023 | May 22, 2023 | Known |
| Industry KEV feed | Dec 6, 2021 | May 22, 2023 | Known |
| CIRCL KEV | May 1, 2023 | May 22, 2023 | Known |
| ENISA EUVD | May 1, 2023 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Affected Products
204 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Log4jApache | 2.0, 2.0-beta9, 2.0-rc1, 2.0-rc2, >= Apache Log4j2 | 2.12.2 |
| Computer Vision Annotation ToolCvat | See advisory | n/a |
| Audio Development KitIntel | See advisory | n/a |
| Datacenter ManagerIntel | See advisory | n/a |
| Genomics Kernel LibraryIntel | See advisory | n/a |
Patched Releases
Log4j
2.12.2, 2.16.0, 2.13.0-4.6.1, 2.16.0-1.amzn2022, 2.16.0-2.1, 2.16.0-4.10.1, 2.16.0-lp152.3.9.1, 2.17.2-1.amzn2022.0.3
apache-log4j2
2.16.0-0.20.04.1, 2.16.0-1, 2.16.0-1~deb10u1, 2.16.0-1~deb11u1
aws-kinesis-agent
2.0.4-1.amzn2
disruptor
3.4.4-3.3.1, 3.4.4-lp152.2.3.1
disruptor-javadoc
3.4.4-3.3.1, 3.4.4-lp152.2.3.1
eap7-apache-cxf
0:3.1.16-4.redhat_00003.1.ep7.el7
eap7-hal-console
0:3.2.17-1.Final_redhat_00001.1.el7eap
eap7-jackson-annotations
0:2.10.4-2.redhat_00004.1.el7eap
eap7-jackson-core
0:2.10.4-2.redhat_00004.1.el7eap
eap7-jackson-databind
0:2.10.4-4.redhat_00004.1.el7eap
eap7-jackson-jaxrs-providers
0:2.10.4-2.redhat_00004.1.el7eap
eap7-jackson-modules-base
0:2.10.4-4.redhat_00004.1.el7eap
eap7-jackson-modules-java8
0:2.10.4-2.redhat_00004.1.el7eap
eap7-jettison
0:1.5.2-2.redhat_00002.1.el7eap
eap7-log4j
0:2.17.1-1.redhat_00001.1.el7eap, 0:2.17.1-1.redhat_00001.1.el8eap
eap7-netty
0:4.1.63-1.Final_redhat_00002.1.ep7.el7
eap7-resteasy
0:3.0.27-1.Final_redhat_00001.1.ep7.el7
eap7-snakeyaml
0:1.33.0-1.SP1_redhat_00001.1.ep7.el7
eap7-velocity
0:1.7.0-3.redhat_00006.1.ep7.el7
eap7-wildfly
0:7.1.9-2.GA_redhat_00002.1.ep7.el7
jakarta-servlet
5.0.0-5.3.1, 5.0.0-lp152.2.1
jakarta-servlet-javadoc
5.0.0-5.3.1, 5.0.0-lp152.2.1
java-1.6.0-openjdk
1:1.6.0.41-1.13.13.1.78.amzn1
java-1.6.0-openjdk-demo
1:1.6.0.41-1.13.13.1.78.amzn1
java-1.6.0-openjdk-devel
1:1.6.0.41-1.13.13.1.78.amzn1
Timeline
Added to Industry KEV feed
Dec 6, 2021
Publicly disclosed
Dec 14, 2021
Added to CISA KEV
May 1, 2023
Added to CIRCL KEV
May 1, 2023
Added to ENISA EUVD
May 1, 2023
Last updated
Oct 2, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-502 Deserialization of Untrusted Data
- CWE-917 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection')
References
- advisoryhttp://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2022:5050
- advisoryhttp://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2022:5052
- advisoryhttp://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2022:5053
- advisoryhttp://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2022:5095
- advisoryhttp://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-22096
FAQ
Common Questions.
It was found that the fix to address CVE-2021-44228 in Apache Log4j 2.15.0 was incomplete in certain non-default configurations.
Affected: Log4j (Apache) versions 2.0, 2.0-beta9, 2.0-rc1, 2.0-rc2, >= Apache Log4j2; Computer Vision Annotation Tool (Cvat); Audio Development Kit (Intel), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Dec 6, 2021 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
Yes. It was added on May 1, 2023 with a federal remediation due date of May 22, 2023.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including Log4j 2.12.2, Log4j 2.16.0, Log4j 2.13.0-4.6.1.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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