CVE-2021-28657: Infinite loop in Apache Tika

org.apache.tika:tika Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

10/05/2021

Disclosed on

CVE-2021-28657

CVE

Yes i

Fix available

Moderate

Severity

5.5

CVSS Score

CVE-2021-28657: Infinite loop in Apache Tika. Affects org.apache.tika:tika versions < 1.26. Fixed in 1.26. How to fix ↓

Also tracked for

tika · Debian:11

The same CVE-2021-28657 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.

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Background

Apache Tika is an open-source content analysis toolkit that is used to detect and extract metadata and text from various file formats. It is commonly used in applications that require parsing and analyzing different types of files. However, a vulnerability has been discovered in Tika versions up to and including 1.25 that can be triggered by a carefully crafted or corrupt file. This vulnerability specifically affects the MP3Parser component of Tika.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability in Apache Tika allows an attacker to trigger an infinite loop in the MP3Parser component. By providing a specially crafted or corrupt MP3 file, an attacker can cause Tika to enter an infinite loop, leading to a denial-of-service condition. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely by an attacker who can trick a user or application into processing a malicious MP3 file. The impact of this vulnerability is limited to the availability of the affected Tika instance and does not allow for arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation.

How To Fix

Minimum fixed version

1.26

This is the first release that contains the fix.

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Workaround

There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. Upgrading to Apache Tika version 1.26 or later is the recommended solution.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the vulnerability in Apache Tika's MP3Parser component can be exploited to trigger an infinite loop, resulting in a denial-of-service condition. Users of Apache Tika should upgrade to version 1.26 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.

See every vulnerability recorded for org.apache.tika:tika →