CVE-2007-5342 in Tomcat
Summary
by MITRE
The default catalina.policy in the JULI logging component in Apache Tomcat 5.5.9 through 5.5.25 and 6.0.0 through 6.0.15 does not restrict certain permissions for web applications, which allows attackers to modify logging configuration options and overwrite arbitrary files, as demonstrated by changing the (1) level, (2) directory, and (3) prefix attributes in the org.apache.juli.FileHandler handler.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5342 represents a critical security flaw in the Apache Tomcat web application server that affects versions ranging from 5.5.9 through 5.5.25 and 6.0.0 through 6.0.15. This issue resides within the JULI logging component's default security policy configuration, which fails to properly restrict permissions for web applications running on the server. The flaw stems from inadequate security boundaries in the container's permission model, allowing malicious web applications to escalate their privileges beyond what is normally permitted. The vulnerability specifically targets the FileHandler configuration within the org.apache.juli package, which serves as the primary logging mechanism for Tomcat applications. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate core logging infrastructure components that are typically protected from unauthorized modification by web applications. The default catalina.policy file, which defines the security permissions for different components within the Tomcat container, contains insufficient restrictions that permit web applications to access logging configuration parameters that should remain protected from application-level interference.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the logging configuration parameters that control how log files are generated and managed within the Tomcat environment. Attackers can modify three specific attributes of the FileHandler handler: the level attribute that determines logging verbosity, the directory attribute that specifies where log files are stored, and the prefix attribute that defines the naming convention for log files. By changing these parameters, an attacker can redirect logging output to arbitrary locations on the filesystem or modify existing log files, potentially overwriting critical system files or creating malicious log entries that could be used for persistence or data exfiltration. This configuration manipulation represents a privilege escalation vulnerability because it allows web applications to effectively bypass the normal security boundaries that should protect the logging subsystem from application-level interference. The vulnerability operates at the container level rather than the application level, meaning that even if individual applications are properly secured, the underlying container's default security policy creates an attack surface that can be exploited to compromise the entire logging infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple logging manipulation to encompass broader system compromise potential. When attackers can modify logging configuration options, they gain the ability to overwrite arbitrary files on the system, which can lead to complete system compromise through various attack vectors. The ability to change log file locations and prefixes allows attackers to potentially redirect logs to locations where they can be read by the attacker, or conversely, to locations where they can overwrite system-critical files. This vulnerability aligns with attack patterns described in the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and persistence domains, as it enables attackers to modify system-level configurations that can be leveraged for maintaining access. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, specifically highlighting the failure to properly restrict access to critical system components. The impact is particularly severe because logging is a fundamental system service that many applications depend upon, and compromising the logging infrastructure can provide attackers with both operational control and stealth capabilities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations to address the security gap in their Tomcat deployments. The primary mitigation involves modifying the default catalina.policy file to properly restrict access permissions for web applications to logging configuration components. Administrators should ensure that the FileHandler configuration parameters are protected from modification by web applications through proper security policy enforcement. This includes implementing stricter permission boundaries that prevent web applications from accessing or modifying logging configuration files and parameters. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of their Tomcat installations to verify that no applications are running with unnecessary privileges that could be exploited to manipulate logging configurations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper security configuration management and the need for regular security assessments of application server environments. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized changes to logging configurations or unusual file modification patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that legitimate application logging requirements are not compromised while properly securing the logging infrastructure against unauthorized access.