4.0.1
CVE-2021-32700 describes a critical supply chain vulnerability affecting Ballerina, an open-source programming language and platform. This vulnerability allows attackers to perform a man-in-the-middle (MiTM) attack against users by substituting or modifying packages retrieved from the Ballerina Central (BC) repository, potentially injecting malicious code into Ballerina executables. Versions 1.2.x and SwanLake releases up to alpha 3 are affected, with a fix available in Ballerina 1.2.14 and SwanLake alpha4.
The core of this vulnerability lies in the lack of TLS encryption and certificate verification for HTTP connections when retrieving packages from Ballerina Central. An attacker positioned between the user and BC can intercept the package requests, substitute them with malicious versions, and effectively inject arbitrary code into the user's Ballerina applications. This could lead to complete compromise of the application, data exfiltration, or even remote code execution on the system running the application. The impact is particularly severe because Ballerina is designed for cloud application development, meaning affected applications are likely deployed in production environments and handle sensitive data. This vulnerability shares similarities with other supply chain attacks where malicious packages are introduced into trusted repositories, highlighting the importance of secure package management practices.
CVE-2021-32700 was publicly disclosed on June 22, 2021. While no active exploitation campaigns have been definitively confirmed, the critical CVSS score (9.1) and the potential for widespread impact make it a high-priority vulnerability. There are currently no known public proof-of-concept exploits. The vulnerability has been added to the CISA KEV catalog, indicating a heightened concern regarding potential exploitation. The ease of performing a MiTM attack suggests that exploitation is possible if an attacker gains access to the network traffic between users and Ballerina Central.
Organizations and developers using Ballerina for cloud application development are at risk, particularly those relying on older versions (≤ 1.2.x and SwanLake alpha3). Shared hosting environments where multiple users share the same Ballerina installation are also at increased risk, as a compromised Ballerina Central connection could affect all users on the host. Developers who have not implemented robust dependency management practices or are unaware of the importance of TLS encryption are also particularly vulnerable.
• linux / server: Monitor network traffic for unencrypted HTTP connections to Ballerina Central (bc.ballerina.io). Use tcpdump or wireshark to inspect traffic and look for missing TLS encryption.
tcpdump -i any port 80 and host bc.ballerina.io• generic web: Check your Ballerina application's configuration files for any hardcoded references to non-HTTPS URLs for Ballerina Central.
grep -r 'http://bc.ballerina.io' /path/to/your/ballerina/project• other: Review your Ballerina project's build scripts and dependency management files to ensure that packages are being retrieved from trusted sources and that integrity checks are being performed.
disclosure
patch
漏洞利用状态
EPSS
0.12% (31% 百分位)
CVSS 向量
The primary mitigation for CVE-2021-32700 is to upgrade to a patched version of Ballerina. Upgrade to version 1.2.14 or SwanLake alpha4 to ensure TLS encryption and certificate verification are enforced during package retrieval. If an immediate upgrade is not feasible, consider implementing a temporary workaround by configuring your network to block or inspect traffic to Ballerina Central. Furthermore, review your Ballerina project dependencies and ensure you are only using trusted package sources. After upgrading, verify the fix by attempting to retrieve a package from Ballerina Central while monitoring network traffic to confirm that the connection is encrypted and certificate validation is occurring.
将 Ballerina 更新到 1.2.14 或 SwanLake alpha4 或更高版本。这修复了允许下载软件包时发生中间人 (MitM) 攻击的安全漏洞，防止恶意代码注入。
漏洞分析和关键警报直接发送到您的邮箱。
CVE-2021-32700 is a critical vulnerability in Ballerina versions ≤ SL-alpha4 that allows attackers to perform a MiTM attack and inject malicious code via package substitution from Ballerina Central due to missing TLS encryption and certificate verification.
You are affected if you are using Ballerina versions 1.2.x or SwanLake releases up to alpha 3. Check your version and upgrade accordingly.
Upgrade to Ballerina version 1.2.14 or SwanLake alpha4 to ensure TLS encryption and certificate verification are enforced during package retrieval.
While no active exploitation campaigns have been definitively confirmed, the critical CVSS score and potential impact warrant immediate attention and mitigation.
Refer to the official Ballerina security advisory: https://ballerina.io/blog/security-advisory-cve-2021-32700/