CVE-2022-0070

Root code execution via mismatched process privileges

Published Apr 19, 2022 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Privilege escalation in Amazon Web Services log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatch before 1.1-16 allows local users to gain root code execution. The service invokes a target-supplied java binary without matching the target process's Linux capabilities and cgroups, so that binary runs with excessive privileges. A low-privileged local process can pose as java and obtain control of the underlying host when the hotpatch service inspects it.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.38%
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 Amazon Web Services log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatch before 1.1-16 allows local users to gain root code execution. The service invokes a target-supplied java binary without matching the target process's Linux capabilities and cgroups, so that binary runs with excessive privileges. A low-privileged local process can pose as java and obtain control of the underlying host when the hotpatch service inspects it.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-0070
Published
Apr 19, 2022
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Amazon Web Services
Product
log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatch
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 19, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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 <1.1-16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Amazon Web Services · log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatchversion=unspecified <1.1-16

Published CVSS scores

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

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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