CVE-2008-1230 in JSPWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Unrestricted file upload vulnerability in JSPWiki 2.4.104 and 2.5.139 allows remote attackers to upload and execute arbitrary .jsp files via an unspecified manipulation that attaches a .jsp file to an "entry page."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1230 represents a critical unrestricted file upload flaw in JSPWiki versions 2.4.104 and 2.5.139. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation and file type checking mechanisms within the application's file upload functionality. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass security controls and upload malicious java server pages with .jsp extension directly to the web server, effectively creating a backdoor for arbitrary code execution. The flaw specifically manifests when attackers manipulate the entry page functionality to attach malicious .jsp files, exploiting the absence of proper file extension validation and content verification measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the web application's insufficient sanitization of file upload parameters. When users attempt to upload files through the entry page feature, the application fails to properly validate the file extensions or content types, allowing attackers to submit .jsp files that contain malicious code. This weakness directly maps to CWE-434, which categorizes unrestricted file upload vulnerabilities as a significant security risk. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that do not implement proper access controls or file validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the underlying server infrastructure. Once a malicious .jsp file is successfully uploaded, it becomes executable within the web server context, potentially allowing attackers to perform actions such as data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or establishing persistent backdoors. The attack surface is further expanded when considering that JSPWiki applications often run with elevated privileges and may have access to sensitive data repositories or database connections. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities to gain initial access to systems through web application attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. Organizations should implement strict file type validation by rejecting uploads of .jsp files or any executable content through the application's upload mechanisms. The implementation of proper content type checking and file extension validation should be enforced at both the application and web server levels. Additionally, the web server should be configured to prevent execution of uploaded files in web-accessible directories, and proper access controls should be implemented to restrict file upload functionality to authorized users only. Security patches and updates to JSPWiki versions that address this vulnerability should be applied immediately, as the vulnerability has existed for over a decade and represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture that requires comprehensive remediation.