Cloud computing or rather more commonly known as cloud-based systems is a collection of conjoined delivery and hosting services that are provided via the internet, these maybe are public or private or for sale to individuals that have access to the internet in the modern-day, with a rapid shift from primitive methodology companies now seeks more and more data centers to establish themselves and obtain the cloud computing technology. In fact, many businesses like Amazon or Alibaba utilize this technology to dominate industries. Read on to learn more about this system’s pros and cons.
What Is Log4j and How Is it Used?
First of all, let us familiarise ourselves with what Log4j is, it is a logging system that helps developers maintain a systematized overview of any problems their clientele or user may be faced with. The product is utilized to record every kind of activity in the system in various PC frameworks and environments.
Log4j is an open-source product of the Apache Software Foundation it is utilized for keeping a record of routine framework activities – and relaying analytic messages and alerts about them to the system in case of errors, malfunction, or alerts to the admin and user. An example of this could be getting a 404 error message when you try to access an incorrectly typed web link. Under the hood the domain tells you that the link you have entered is non-existent, it also takes note of this occasion to report back to the server log for the admin to view.
In numerous other software applications, presumptuous and alerting messages are used in places of troubleshooting, diagnostics, or process handling. In the latest developments, 1000s of cyber security specialists have highlighted the danger of the Log4j vulnerability.
Read on to find out what this is and how it’s exploiting cloud systems of the current era.
How does Log4j Vulnerability Exploits Cloud Systems?
This vulnerability initially came to be known when the Alibaba security team that monitors their cloud reported it to the Apache Software Foundation. This grey area in the log4j system hence came to be known as Log4j Shell.
Here Is How The Log4j Shell Works:
The Log4j Shell allows malicious threats easily into the system by enabling hackers and attackers to manipulate the application log strings that are used to store the activity of the application to gain access and agency over the application and ploy it into inserting malicious code into the system that helps the attacker gain access to critical data. This data can be inclusive of login information, credentials, passwords etcetera. This vulnerability is so critical that it can end up infecting entire networks within the application, causing unfathomable damages to the company.
Previously numerous cyber attacks have been directed toward crypto platforms, which due to Log4j have become a new attraction for Ransomware attacks. Such attacks are exemplary of how fast the penetration from this vulnerability is and truly how much could be at stake.
When Exactly Is The Log4j Vulnerability Exploitable?
Listed below are some scenarios under which this vulnerability can be exploited:
- Your application uses log4j Maven package log4j-core ith version 2.0.0-2.12.1 or 2.13.0-2.14.1 only Version 2.12.2 is not vulnerable, since it received backported fixes from version 2.16.0.
- The following APIs can be corrupted by a remote attacker:
- logger.info()
- logger.debug()
- logger.error()
- logger.fatal()
- logger.log()
- logger.trace()
- logger.warn()
- Log4j-specific mitigations have not been applied
What Course Of Action To Take In Case Your System Is Compromised?
Follow the precise guide to make sure you are well prepared to tackle any situation regarding the Log4j Shell.
If your system uses Log4j Version :
1. < 2.14.1: This version includes any previous to it would be considered a critical risk, The default configuration would be under attack and would allow attackers to gain access and practice authority over any part of your system’s logged data. The course of action for this should be an immediate upgrade.
2. Version 2.15.0: This would be considered medium risk. In this case, the rare non-default configuration CVE-2021-45105 would be at risk. This kind of remote attack is only known to work on macOS and FreeBSD. For this, you will need to check your configuration and upgrade.
3. Version 2.16.0 Same as 2.15.0 + configuration must specify “log4j2.enableJndi” (new flag unlikely to be inherited from the existing project). CVE-2021-45105 exists but has a negligible impact. In this case, there would be negligible impact hence no action is required.
4. Version 2.17.0 CVE-2021-45105 exists but has a negligible impact. In this case, there would be negligible impact hence no action is required.
Having a robust system and fast internet is also helpful in such situations read more on how to increase your efficiency via internet speed and access here.
Log4j is a widely and diversely used library, although it’s difficult to identify as it is often deployed coupled with other software packages, still, it requires system administration to remain alert and keep a keen eye on their logs and inventory to identify any mishaps.
In conclusion, protecting your cloud system is crucial as all the components within it are interconnected, per se one component is critically compromised, it can cause you loss or corruption of a large magnitude of data which would be highly difficult to recover, in many cases the problem may be unfixable or the damage undoable. If possible then it may cost you a lot of time and money to fix hence paying heed to this matter at the right time may help you to keep your system more secure and robust.