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CVE Record

CVE-2021-36162: Unprotected yaml deserialization cause RCE

Apache Dubbo supports various rules to support configuration override or traffic routing (called routing in Dubbo). These rules are loaded into the configuration center (eg: Zookeeper, Nacos, ...) and retrieved by the customers when making a request in order to find the right endpoint. When parsing these YAML rules, Dubbo customers will use SnakeYAML library to load the rules which by default will enable calling arbitrary constructors. An attacker with access to the configuration center he will be able to poison the rule so when retrieved by the consumers, it will get RCE on all of them. This was fixed in Dubbo 2.7.13, 3.0.2

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Apache Dubbo could execute attacker-controlled code when consumers parse poisoned YAML routing or configuration rules from a configuration center. The attacker first needs access to that configuration center. If present, impact can spread across many Dubbo consumers. Fixed versions are 2.7.13 and 3.0.2.

Executive priority

Treat this as high priority where Dubbo configuration centers are reachable by many services or broadly administered. The business risk is fleet-wide code execution through a shared operational control plane, although exploitation evidence is not provided.

Technical view

Dubbo 2.7.x and 3.0.x loaded YAML rules with SnakeYAML defaults that allow arbitrary constructors. A malicious rule placed in Zookeeper, Nacos, or another configuration center could trigger code execution when consumers retrieve and parse it. The source bundle names no CVSS, CWE, workaround, or active exploitation.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in environments running Apache Dubbo 2.7.x or 3.0.x with routing, override, or traffic rules delivered through a configuration center such as Zookeeper or Nacos.

Exploitation context

No cited source reports active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle. Exploitation requires the attacker to modify or poison rules in the configuration center, making access control around that system central to risk.

Researcher notes

The key condition is attacker access to the configuration center, not merely network access to a Dubbo consumer. Evidence is limited to the CVE description and Apache reference; no public exploit status, CVSS vector, or detailed workaround is included in the supplied sources.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Apache Dubbo to 2.7.13, 3.0.2, or later supported versions.
  • Check Apache Dubbo guidance for any environment-specific remediation details.
  • Restrict write access to configuration centers such as Zookeeper or Nacos.
  • Review routing and override rules for unauthorized or unexpected changes.
  • Audit credentials with access to Dubbo configuration centers.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Apache Dubbo versions across services and consumers.
  • Identify whether Dubbo rules are loaded from a configuration center.
  • Verify vulnerable 2.7.x or 3.0.x deployments are upgraded.
  • Review configuration center access logs for unauthorized rule changes.
  • Confirm only trusted administrators can modify Dubbo routing rules.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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Execution behavior lookup

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CVE-2021-36162 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Apache Software FoundationApache DubboApache Dubbo 2.7.x, Apache Dubbo 3.0.xListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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