CVE-2007-4548 in Geronimo
Summary
by MITRE
The login method in LoginModule implementations in Apache Geronimo 2.0 does not throw FailedLoginException for failed logins, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication requirements, deploy arbitrary modules, and gain administrative access by sending a blank username and password with the command line deployer in the deployment module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4548 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within Apache Geronimo version 2.0 deployment module. This issue resides in the LoginModule implementations where the authentication mechanism fails to properly validate login credentials and subsequently does not throw the expected FailedLoginException when authentication attempts fail. The technical implementation defect creates a significant security gap that directly impacts the integrity of the authentication system.
The flaw operates through a specific attack vector involving the command line deployer functionality within the deployment module. When attackers send blank username and password credentials to the deployment interface, the system incorrectly processes these invalid credentials as valid authentication attempts rather than rejecting them with proper failure exceptions. This misbehavior stems from the absence of proper credential validation logic within the login method implementation, creating an authentication bypass condition that allows unauthorized access to administrative functions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to completely circumvent the authentication mechanisms protecting the Apache Geronimo deployment system. The successful exploitation allows attackers to deploy arbitrary modules and gain full administrative access to the server, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The remote nature of the attack means that no local system access is required, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments where the deployment interface is exposed to external networks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. Additionally, this flaw maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts for privilege escalation and persistence. The lack of proper exception handling in authentication flows creates a condition where attackers can leverage the system's failure to properly validate credentials to gain unauthorized access. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the security model where the system assumes valid credentials when they are actually invalid.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of Apache Geronimo, implementing network segmentation to restrict access to deployment interfaces, and configuring proper firewall rules to limit exposure of deployment endpoints. The deployment module should be configured to require strong authentication and proper credential validation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual deployment activities and unauthorized access attempts. Regular security audits should verify that authentication mechanisms properly enforce credential validation and throw appropriate exceptions for failed login attempts.