CVE-2007-1157 in JBoss
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in jmx-console/HtmlAdaptor in JBoss allows remote attackers to perform privileged actions as administrators via certain MBean operations, a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-3733.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2017
The CVE-2007-1157 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the JBoss application server's jmx-console HtmlAdaptor component. This vulnerability specifically targets the management console interface that exposes MBean operations, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute privileged administrative actions without proper authentication. The flaw exists in the way the HtmlAdaptor handles HTTP requests and lacks adequate anti-CSRF protection mechanisms, making it susceptible to exploitation by malicious actors who can craft specially crafted requests that appear legitimate to the server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper request validation and token verification within the JBoss management console interface. When users access the jmx-console, the system should validate that requests originate from authenticated administrators and contain appropriate security tokens to prevent unauthorized operations. However, the HtmlAdaptor component fails to implement robust CSRF protection measures, allowing attackers to trick authenticated users into executing unintended administrative operations through malicious web pages or email attachments. This vulnerability specifically affects MBean operations that can modify system configurations, deploy applications, or perform other privileged tasks within the JBoss environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-1157 is severe and far-reaching for organizations running affected JBoss installations. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain full administrative control over the application server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or service disruption. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform actions such as deploying malicious applications, modifying server configurations, accessing sensitive data, or even establishing persistent backdoors within the JBoss environment. Given that JBoss was widely deployed in enterprise environments, the potential attack surface for this vulnerability was substantial, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed management consoles.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, starting with immediate patching of affected JBoss versions and disabling the HtmlAdaptor component when possible. The implementation of proper CSRF tokens and request validation mechanisms should be enforced throughout the application server management interfaces. Security teams should also consider network segmentation to restrict access to management consoles, implement strict firewall rules, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses, and represents a technique that falls under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion categories, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls beyond traditional perimeter defenses.