CVE-2021-44228 - Log4j RCE 0-day

[Goned75]

In view of this new CVE which touches apache and on Log4j prior 2.15 - do ASUS routers use this?

this is a general question but also for @RMerlin .

Thank you

 

[sfx2000]

Not used in most routers...

The Log4j exploit is a Java thing...

 

[ColinTaylor]

Asus/Merlin don't use Apache's Log4j.

 

[AndreiV]

Asus/Merlin don't use Apache.

No but millions of servers do and that has left everyone in danger .

Even a novice can ( and they are ) use this exploit to enter servers and PC's.

It is decribed as "probably the worst threat in the history of modern computing."

 

[RMerlin]

It is decribed as "probably the worst threat in the history of modern computing."

I highly doubt that...

Personally, I never even heard of log4j before this CVE became publicized. I use cronolog for servers that have heavy web traffic logging.

 

[shabbs]

We use it heavily at our work. Lots of Java/JBoss. This week is going to SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK.

 

[AndreiV]

I highly doubt that...

Personally, I never even heard of log4j before this CVE became publicized. I use cronolog for servers that have heavy web traffic logging.

log4j exploit plenty of security people panicking.

 

[jasonmicron]

Came here to ask this same question. Ubiquiti routers are definitely affected:

https://community.ui.com/releases/UniFi-Network-Application-6-5-54/d717f241-48bb-4979-8b10-99db36ddabe1

We use those at our office, which made me wonder if the ASUS firmware also utilizes the log4j library.

Just because the firmware isn't Java-based doesn't mean that the underlying code fails to use log4j in some way.

I suppose this is really a question for ASUS and not Merlin. I would say there is a greater than zero chance that ASUS uses log4j, but I don't know for certain.

 

[jasonmicron]

I highly doubt that...

Personally, I never even heard of log4j before this CVE became publicized. I use cronolog for servers that have heavy web traffic logging.

You're misunderstanding the issue. You can log whatever you want in your own way. The issue is the underlying software provided from ASUS.

This probably isn't the "worst threat in modern computing" but it is certainly in the top 5. The magnitude of this is pretty heavy. A lot of software engineers are probably on their 14th cup of coffee right now patching their software to mitigate this issue.

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Edit: Just realized I quoted Merlin himself. As if you don't already know better than the rest of us how the ASUS software works lol. Apologies. If you think we're good, then we're good.

 

[ColinTaylor]

@jasonmicron See post #3.

 

[jasonmicron]

@jasonmicron See post #3.

Yep - but admittedly I haven't looked at the code ASUS developed to know whether or not they use log4j. I'm feeling positive that Merlin has, and he says we're good. So that's good enough for me, for now.

We don't know for sure though unless we see the source, and I'm assuming the underlying firmware code from ASUS is proprietary and not open. That's my only hesitation.

Edit: All we really have access to is the OS layer. Who knows what is built into the kernel.

 

[RMerlin]

log4j exploit plenty of security people panicking.

Yes, but people calling it "the worst security issue ever" have a short memory.

Heartbleed was more critical, because OpenSSL was far more widespread.

i was also around during the Windows XP days where worms could remotely infect machines and automatically spread itself (I forgot the name of the exploit). That was also a more critical security issue.

 

[jasonmicron]

Yes, but people calling it "the worst security issue ever" have a short memory.

Heartbleed was more critical, because OpenSSL was far more widespread.

i was also around during the Windows XP days where worms could remotely infect machines and automatically spread itself (I forgot the name of the exploit). That was also a more critical security issue.

I think you're referring to Slammer: https://www.wired.com/2003/07/slammer/

Yea, that was ... bad. I agree w/ ya, I don't think this is anywhere near as bad as people think, but it is still a huge exposure due to the amount of java-based webapps out on the internet. Personally, I'd love it if Java just went away, but I digress.

 

[sfx2000]

It is decribed as "probably the worst threat in the history of modern computing."

It's widespread, but a very easy fix to implement.

Shellshock and Heartbleed were a much bigger deal...

 

[Sirius]

Thanks for the discussion, which for me as a mechanical engineer isn't easy to capture.
My concrete question:
Do I have to be afraid if I am using an RT-AC87U with the modified Asus Merlin Firmware 384.13_202106 as Firewall (behind a Fritz!Box 7490 with the latest firmware 7.29)? Should I switch it with my RT-AC86U which runs the later Asus Merlin 386.3_2?

 

[jasonmicron]

Thanks for the discussion, which for me as a mechanical engineer isn't easy to capture.
My concrete question:
Do I have to be afraid if I am using an RT-AC87U with the modified Asus Merlin Firmware 384.13_202106 as Firewall (behind a Fritz!Box 7490 with the latest firmware 7.29)? Should I switch it with my RT-AC86U which runs the later Asus Merlin 386.3_2?

I think the consensus here is that you don't need to worry about it. The ASUS firmware doesn't appear to utilize this java feature.

If you swapped out your routers, and if ASUS did utilize log4j, you wouldn't gain anything by swapping hardware other than an angry family because you took down the internet. The issue would be present on both routers.

 

[R1-Limited]

Some of the replies are funny, though any exploit is not funny. Arguing this or that is the worse is sort of anal IMO. Its like saying I got cancer but its the good kind.

 

[shabbs]

Will be a busy week at my work patching, testing and deploying. Wheeeee... put the kettle on.

Seems even the very old versions of log4j (1.2.x) have scenarios under which they are also vulnerable. We've not hit that in our asset inventory... yet.

 

[jasonmicron]

Oh we have... yea, dunno how this affects 1.2. But it's been a busy weekend and first workday after the weekend. There are a ton of nooks and crannies to check.

 

[ForkWNY]

The Log4j vulnerability is definitely not the "worst threat to modern computing" in history. It's relatively easy to mitigate, pending that there isn't a lot of dependence on older versions of Java. If you can't patch, just disable remote control until a patch can be rolled out.