CVE-2021-3703 in openshift-serverless
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2022
It was found that the CVE-2021-27918, CVE-2021-31525 and CVE-2021-33196 have been incorrectly mentioned as fixed in RHSA for Serverless 1.16.0 and Serverless client kn 1.16.0. These have been fixed with Serverless 1.17.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical misclassification in security advisory documentation where multiple previously identified security issues were incorrectly stated as resolved in Serverless version 1.16.0. The affected vulnerabilities CVE-2021-27918, CVE-2021-31525, and CVE-2021-33196 were mistakenly marked as patched in the Red Hat Security Advisory (RHSA) for Serverless 1.16.0 releases, creating a false sense of security for organizations relying on these advisories. This type of documentation error falls under CWE-843, which addresses improper access control in security advisories and release notes, potentially leading to significant operational risks for users who believe their systems are protected when they remain vulnerable. The correct fix was actually implemented in Serverless version 1.17.0, indicating a gap in the verification process between vulnerability identification, patch development, and advisory publication.
The technical implications of this misclassification are substantial as it affects the integrity of security update processes and could leave systems exposed to known exploitation vectors. Organizations that updated to Serverless 1.16.0 based on the incorrect advisory would remain vulnerable to the specific threats addressed by these CVEs, which typically involve privilege escalation, code execution, or information disclosure vulnerabilities. This misconfiguration creates a scenario where security teams may have false confidence in their patching efforts, potentially leading to extended exposure windows and increased attack surface. The error demonstrates a breakdown in the quality assurance processes that should validate security fixes before publication, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1592 which involves reconnaissance through vulnerability scanning and exploitation of known security gaps.
Organizations affected by this misclassification must urgently assess their current Serverless deployments to determine if they are running version 1.16.0 or earlier, as these versions contain the unpatched vulnerabilities that could be exploited by threat actors. The remediation process requires immediate upgrade to Serverless 1.17.0 or later versions, but this must be done carefully to ensure that all components are properly updated and that no intermediate versions remain in the deployment pipeline. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred during the window when systems were incorrectly believed to be patched. This situation highlights the importance of maintaining accurate security inventories and implementing robust verification processes for all security advisories, particularly those involving critical infrastructure components like serverless frameworks that are increasingly adopted in enterprise environments. The incident underscores the necessity for continuous monitoring and validation of security patches, as well as the need for clear communication channels between security vendors and their customers to prevent such misclassifications from affecting production environments.