CVE-2021-3100Public exploit

Local root execution via privileged java invocation

Published Apr 19, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Privilege escalation in AWS log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatch before 1.1-13 allows local users to execute code as root via a crafted java process. The service treats any binary named java as a patch candidate and launches the attacker-controlled binary with elevated privileges instead of those of the target JVM. A low-privilege process or container can supply that binary, gaining root execution on the host and, from a container, escaping its isolation.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in AWS log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatch before 1.1-13 allows local users to execute code as root via a crafted java process. The service treats any binary named java as a patch candidate and launches the attacker-controlled binary with elevated privileges instead of those of the target JVM. A low-privilege process or container can supply that binary, gaining root execution on the host and, from a container, escaping its isolation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3100
Published
Apr 19, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Amazon Web Services
Product
log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatch
Classifications
CWE-250, T1068, T1611
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 19, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <1.1-13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Amazon Web Services · log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatchversion=unspecified <1.1-13

Published CVSS scores

8.8Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-250Execution with Unnecessary Privileges
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation
T1611Escape to Host

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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