# CVE-2021-28656: Apache Zeppelin: CSRF vulnerability in the Credentials page

> An attacker can trick users into submitting malicious requests on the Credentials page, potentially modifying sensitive data.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 Apr 2024
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-prvg-rh5h-74jr

## What is CVE-2021-28656?

CVE-2021-28656 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apache Zeppelin, published on 9 Apr 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Credential page of Apache Zeppelin allows an attacker to submit malicious request.  This issue affects Apache Zeppelin Apache Zeppelin version 0.9.0 and prior versions.

Weakness: CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-28656?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.zeppelin:zeppelin-web. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.zeppelin:zeppelin-web` | Maven | All versions to 0.9.0 | None |
| `org.apache.zeppelin:zeppelin-web` | Maven | All versions to 0.9.0 | None |

Products: Apache Zeppelin.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-28656?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-28656 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-28656 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-28656 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Zeppelin

- [CVE-2024-31864](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-31864/): Apache Zeppelin: Remote code execution by adding malicious JDBC connection string (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-31866](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-31866/): Apache Zeppelin: Interpreter download command does not escape malicious code injection (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-10095](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-10095/): bash command injection in spark interpreter (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-1317](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1317/): Improper Authentication in Apache Zeppelin (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2017-12619](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12619/): Session Fixation in Apache Zeppelin (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-28656 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-28656 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apache Zeppelin, published on 9 Apr 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-28656 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.zeppelin:zeppelin-web (Maven): affected all versions up to 0.9.0; no fix listed
- org.apache.zeppelin:zeppelin-web (Maven): affected all versions up to 0.9.0; no fix listed

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-28656/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-28656/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-28656
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-28656
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-28656

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-28656/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.