CVE-2022-33915

What it is

Versions of the Amazon AWS Apache Log4j hotpatch package before log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatch-1.3.5 are affected by a race condition that could lead to a local privilege escalation. This Hotpatch package is not a replacement for updating to a log4j version that mitigates CVE-2021-44228 or CVE-2021-45046; it provides a temporary mitigation to CVE-2021-44228 by hotpatching the local Java virtual machines. To do so, it iterates through all running Java processes, performs several checks, and executes the Java virtual machine with the same permissions and capabilities as the running process to load the hotpatch. A local user could cause the hotpatch script to execute a binary with elevated privileges by running a custom java process that performs exec() of an SUID binary after the hotpatch has observed the process path and before it has observed its effective user ID.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2022-06-17 13:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 04:49 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 7.0 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2022-06-17 13:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 04:49 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-362 · Race condition

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Amazon Hotpatch < 1.3.5

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.0

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

High

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2022-33915.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2022-33915. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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