CVE-2021-27850
Bypass of the fix for CVE-2019-0195
- Published
- Apr 15, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 3, 2024
- Assigning CNA
- apache
- Evidence observed
- Aug 8, 2026
Primary CVSS
nvd · CVSS 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HHigh · next 30 days
- Percentile
- 99.8%
- Model date
- Oct 18, 2026
EPSS is a statistical estimate, not a certainty or a measure of impact. Combine it with CVSS, KEV status, exposure and your environment.
Summary
A critical unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability was found all recent versions of Apache Tapestry. The affected versions include 5.4.5, 5.5.0, 5.6.2 and 5.7.0. The vulnerability I have found is a bypass of the fix for CVE-2019-0195. Recap: Before the fix of CVE-2019-0195 it was possible to download arbitrary class files from the classpath by providing a crafted asset file URL. An attacker was able to download the file `AppModule.class` by requesting the URL `http://localhost:8080/assets/something/services/AppModule.class` which contains a HMAC secret key. The fix for that bug was a blacklist filter that checks if the URL ends with `.class`, `.properties` or `.xml`. Bypass: Unfortunately, the blacklist solution can simply be bypassed by appending a `/` at the end of the URL: `http://localhost:8080/assets/something/services/AppModule.class/` The slash is stripped after the blacklist check and the file `AppModule.class` is loaded into the response. This class usually contains the HMAC secret key which is used to sign serialized Java objects. With the knowledge of that key an attacker can sign a Java gadget chain that leads to RCE (e.g. CommonsBeanUtils1 from ysoserial). Solution for this vulnerability: * For Apache Tapestry 5.4.0 to 5.6.1, upgrade to 5.6.2 or later. * For Apache Tapestry 5.7.0, upgrade to 5.7.1 or later.
Sources
modules/auxiliary/gather/cve_2021_27850_apache_tapestry_hmac_key.rb
Metasploit Framework modulesDeclared conditions
- verification: check_declared($.auxiliary_gather/cve_2021_27850_apache_tapestry_hmac_key.check)
http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-27850.yaml
Nuclei TemplatesDeclared conditions
- network: http($.protocol_keys)
- verification: status,word($.matchers[*].type)
Responsible use
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