CVE-2005-0508 in Batik
Summary
by MITRE
unknown vulnerability in squiggle for batik before 1.5.1 allows attackers to bypass certain access controls via certain features of the rhino scripting engine due to a "script security issue."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0508 represents a critical access control bypass issue within the squiggle component of Apache Batik versions prior to 1.5.1. This flaw specifically manifests through interactions with the rhino scripting engine, which serves as the JavaScript engine for processing embedded scripts within the batik framework. The vulnerability stems from inadequate script security controls that permit malicious actors to exploit features within the scripting environment to circumvent intended access restrictions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient sandboxing mechanisms implemented within the rhino scripting engine integration. When squiggle processes SVG documents containing embedded scripts, the security boundaries established by the scripting engine are improperly configured, allowing unauthorized code execution that can bypass the normal access control mechanisms. This occurs because the scripting engine's security policies are not properly enforced when processing certain script features, creating an attack surface where malicious code can execute with elevated privileges or access restricted resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions within the context of applications using the affected batik components. An attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code, access restricted file systems, or manipulate application behavior through the bypassed access controls. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that utilize batik for SVG processing, as it allows remote code execution through maliciously crafted SVG files that contain embedded scripts designed to exploit the scripting engine's security weaknesses.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues, and demonstrates how scripting engine security flaws can lead to privilege escalation and unauthorized access. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script execution and T1068 for privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the scripting engine to execute malicious code with elevated privileges. Organizations deploying batik components should implement immediate mitigations including updating to version 1.5.1 or later, where the scripting security issues have been addressed through improved sandboxing mechanisms and enhanced security policy enforcement.
Mitigation strategies should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. The primary solution involves upgrading to Apache Batik 1.5.1 or newer versions where the scripting engine security has been properly addressed. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of batik-dependent applications and consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious SVG content. Regular security assessments should verify that the scripting engine configurations properly enforce security policies and that no legacy components remain vulnerable to similar scripting engine issues.