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Apache Log4j 2.0-beta9 < 2.25.3 MitM

medium Nessus Plugin ID 282519

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Synopsis

A logging library installed on the remote host is affected by a man in the middle vulnerability.

Description

The version of Apache Log4j on the remote host is 2.0-beta9 through 2.25.2. The Socket Appender in Apache Log4j Core versions 2.0-beta9 through 2.25.2 does not perform TLS hostname verification of the peer certificate, even when the verifyHostName https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/manual/appenders/network.html#SslConfiguration-attr-verifyHostName configuration attribute or the log4j2.sslVerifyHostName https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/manual/systemproperties.html#log4j2.sslVerifyHostName system property is set to true. This issue may allow a man-in-the-middle attacker to intercept or redirect log traffic under the following conditions:

 - The attacker is able to intercept or redirect network traffic between the client and the log receiver.
- The attacker can present a server certificate issued by a certification authority trusted by the Socket Appender’s configured trust store (or by the default Java trust store if no custom trust store is configured).

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

Solution

Upgrade to Apache Log4j version 2.25.3 or later.

See Also

https://lists.apache.org/thread/xr33kyxq3sl67lwb61ggvm1fzc8k7dvx

Plugin Details

Severity: Medium

ID: 282519

File Name: apache_log4j_2_25_3.nasl

Version: 1.1

Type: local

Agent: windows, macosx, unix

Family: Misc.

Published: 1/9/2026

Updated: 1/9/2026

Supported Sensors: Nessus Agent, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 4.0

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 5.8

Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2025-68161

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 4.8

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/a:apache:log4j

Required KB Items: installed_sw/Apache Log4j

Patch Publication Date: 12/16/2025

Vulnerability Publication Date: 12/18/2025

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2025-68161

IAVA: 2026-A-0001