Service interruption via TLS reference cycle
Published Aug 24, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024
Memory leakage in Dogtag PKI Network Security Services for Java allows remote attackers to exhaust server RAM through repeated TLS connections. JSSEngineReferenceImpl creates cyclic references through SSLAlertEvent.engine, preventing garbage collection and retaining ssl_fd, read_buf, write_buf, and JNI resources after each connection. Unauthenticated network access to a JSS-backed TLS service is sufficient; sustained connections can invoke the Linux out-of-memory process and interrupt the hosting service.
Summary
What happened
Memory leakage in Dogtag PKI Network Security Services for Java allows remote attackers to exhaust server RAM through repeated TLS connections. JSSEngineReferenceImpl creates cyclic references through SSLAlertEvent.engine, preventing garbage collection and retaining ssl_fd, read_buf, write_buf, and JNI resources after each connection. Unauthenticated network access to a JSS-backed TLS service is sufficient; sustained connections can invoke the Linux out-of-memory process and interrupt the hosting service.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-4213
- Published
- Aug 24, 2022
- Updated
- Aug 3, 2024
- Vendor
- Dogtag PKI
- Product
- Network Security Services for Java (JSS)
- Classifications
- CWE-401, T1499.003
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 24, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 3, 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.
- Affected versionversion=Fixed in v5.2.0-beta1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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