Apache Kafka up to 2.8.0 Password Arrays.equals information exposure

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as problematic has been identified in Apache Kafka. This affects the function Arrays.equals of the component Password Handler. Executing a manipulation can lead to information exposure. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2021-38153. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apache Kafka. It has been declared as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function Arrays.equals of the component Password Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a information exposure vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-203. The product behaves differently or sends different responses under different circumstances in a way that is observable to an unauthorized actor, which exposes security-relevant information about the state of the product, such as whether a particular operation was successful or not. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality.

The weakness was disclosed 09/22/2021. The advisory is available at kafka.apache.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2021-38153 since 08/06/2021. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. This vulnerability is assigned to T1592 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 252497 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2021-38153), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 2.8.1 or 3.0.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (252497). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.4

VulDB Base Score: 3.1
VulDB Temp Score: 3.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.9
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Information exposure
CWE: CWE-203 / CWE-200 / CWE-284
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 252497
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2021-38153

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kafka 2.8.1/3.0.0

Timelineinfo

08/06/2021 🔍
09/22/2021 +47 days 🔍
09/22/2021 +0 days 🔍
08/20/2025 +1428 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: apache.org

Advisory: kafka.apache.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2021-38153 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2021-38153
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-183202

Entryinfo

Created: 09/22/2021 14:38
Updated: 08/20/2025 14:25
Changes: 09/22/2021 14:38 (40), 10/01/2021 09:22 (1), 10/01/2021 09:23 (18), 08/20/2025 14:25 (16)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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