CVE-2021-28657 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A carefully crafted or corrupt file may trigger an infinite loop in Apache Tika's MP3Parser up to and including Tika 1.25. Users should upgrade to 1.26 or later.

Understanding CVE-2021-28657

This CVE relates to an infinite loop vulnerability found in Apache Tika's MP3 parser up to version 1.25.

What is CVE-2021-28657?

CVE-2021-28657 is a vulnerability in Apache Tika that can be triggered by a specially crafted or corrupt file, resulting in an infinite loop in the MP3Parser module.

The Impact of CVE-2021-28657

The impact of this vulnerability is that it could potentially cause excessive consumption of system resources, leading to denial of service or system instability.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-28657

This section provides specific technical details regarding the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

A carefully crafted or corrupt file can cause an infinite loop in Tika's MP3Parser up to version 1.25, necessitating an upgrade to version 1.26 or later.

Affected Systems and Versions

Apache Tika versions up to and including 1.25 are affected by this vulnerability, highlighting the importance of updating to version 1.26 or higher.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the MP3Parser through specially crafted files to trigger the infinite loop.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here are the steps to mitigate and prevent potential exploitation of CVE-2021-28657.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to upgrade Apache Tika to version 1.26 or above to address this vulnerability and prevent any related issues.

Long-Term Security Practices

Employing secure coding practices, regular security audits, and staying updated with patches can enhance overall system security.

Patching and Updates

Regularly checking for updates and applying patches provided by the Apache Software Foundation is essential to ensure the security of Apache Tika.