CVE-2021-44521
9.1 · CRITICALOverview
CVE-2021-44521 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting apache cassandra. It was published on February 11, 2022 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 (CRITICAL).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
Technical Description
When running Apache Cassandra with the following configuration: enable_user_defined_functions: true enable_scripted_user_defined_functions: true enable_user_defined_functions_threads: false it is possible for an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the host. The attacker would need to have enough permissions to create user defined functions in the cluster to be able to exploit this. Note that this configuration is documented as unsafe, and will continue to be considered unsafe after this CVE.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from apache. Update cassandra to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| apache | cassandra | >= 3.0.0, < 3.0.26 | Affected |
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2021-44521?
CVE-2021-44521 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting apache cassandra. It was published on February 11, 2022 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 (CRITICAL).
How severe is CVE-2021-44521?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2021-44521?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from apache. Update cassandra to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2021-44521?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2021-44521 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
Automated penetration testing that runs continuously, not just quarterly.
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Browser-based exploitation validates findings with real proof-of-concept.
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