CVE-2007-2975 in Openfire
Summary
by MITRE
The admin console in Ignite Realtime Openfire 3.3.0 and earlier (formerly Wildfire) does not properly specify a filter mapping in web.xml, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges and execute arbitrary code by accessing functionality that is exposed through DWR, as demonstrated using the downloader.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2975 represents a critical security flaw in the Ignite Realtime Openfire messaging server version 3.3.0 and earlier, formerly known as Wildfire. This issue stems from improper configuration of the web.xml deployment descriptor file, specifically concerning filter mappings that control access to sensitive administrative functions. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code through the Dynamic Web Remoting (DWR) framework, which is exposed without proper access controls.
The technical root cause lies in the inadequate filter mapping implementation within the web.xml configuration file of the Openfire administration console. This misconfiguration allows unauthorized access to DWR endpoints that should be restricted to authenticated administrators only. The DWR framework, designed for asynchronous web applications, becomes a vector for privilege escalation when the filter mappings fail to properly restrict access based on user authentication status. Attackers can exploit this weakness by directly accessing the downloader functionality, which is typically intended for authorized administrative use only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with complete administrative control over affected Openfire servers. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web application, potentially leading to full server compromise, data exfiltration, service disruption, and lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects organizations using Openfire versions up to 3.3.0, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of this messaging platform in enterprise environments.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-285: Improper Authorization, which specifically addresses situations where applications fail to properly enforce access controls for protected resources. The flaw also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078: Valid Accounts, as it allows attackers to escalate privileges and gain administrative access without requiring additional authentication credentials. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of T1505: Server Software Component, where attackers exploit weaknesses in application components to gain elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2975 include immediate upgrading to Openfire version 3.3.1 or later, which contains the necessary patch to correct the filter mapping configuration. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to restrict access to the administration console ports, deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter DWR requests, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar misconfigurations. The patch addresses the specific filter mapping issue in web.xml by ensuring that all administrative DWR endpoints require proper authentication and authorization before execution. Security teams should also review and validate all filter mappings in web.xml files for similar issues and implement proper access control mechanisms for all web application components.