CVE-2005-2006 in JBOSS
Summary
by MITRE
JBOSS 3.2.2 through 3.2.7 and 4.0.2 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a GET request (1) with a "%." (percent dot), which reveals the installation path or (2) with a % (percent) before a filename, which reveals the contents of the file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2006 represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting JBoss application servers version 3.2.2 through 3.2.7 and 4.0.2. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the server's file handling mechanisms, specifically when processing GET requests containing specially crafted URL-encoded sequences. The flaw allows remote attackers to extract sensitive system information without authentication, potentially exposing critical infrastructure details that could facilitate further exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the server's handling of percent-encoded characters in file paths. When a malicious GET request contains a "%." sequence, the server incorrectly processes this input and reveals the installation path of the JBoss application server. Similarly, when a % character is placed before a filename in the request, the server returns the contents of the requested file, potentially exposing configuration files, source code, or other sensitive data. This behavior occurs due to insufficient sanitization of input parameters and inadequate validation of file access requests within the server's request processing pipeline.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with critical system information that can be leveraged for subsequent attacks. Exposure of installation paths can reveal the server's directory structure, helping attackers identify potential targets for further exploitation. File content disclosure can expose sensitive configuration files containing database credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential information that could compromise the entire system. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can enable attackers to conduct reconnaissance activities without detection, making it particularly dangerous in production environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the JBoss server configuration. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of JBoss application server that address this information disclosure flaw. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to sensitive server endpoints. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting file access permissions and implementing proper authentication mechanisms for sensitive resources. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing). Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file access patterns and percent-encoded sequences in HTTP requests to identify potential exploitation attempts.