CVE-2008-2406 in Java Active Server Pages
Summary
by MITRE
The administration application server in Sun Java Active Server Pages (ASP) Server before 4.0.3 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via direct requests on TCP port 5102.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2406 affects the Sun Java Active Server Pages (ASP) Server administration application server component prior to version 4.0.3. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the fundamental authentication mechanisms designed to protect administrative functions within the server environment. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface that operates on TCP port 5102, which serves as the primary communication channel for administrative tasks and configuration management.
The technical flaw stems from improper authentication handling within the administration server component, allowing unauthorized remote attackers to directly access administrative functions without proper credential validation. This occurs because the system fails to adequately verify the authenticity of requests made to the administrative port, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can bypass the standard authentication protocols. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms that should normally enforce strict authentication requirements before granting administrative privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing affected Sun Java ASP Server versions. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this weakness can gain full administrative control over the server, enabling them to modify server configurations, access sensitive data, deploy malicious code, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the system. This level of access effectively compromises the entire server infrastructure and can lead to complete system takeover, data breaches, and service disruption. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote exploitation without requiring any local access or prior authentication credentials.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including patching to version 4.0.3 or later, which contains the necessary authentication fixes. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to TCP port 5102, limiting administrative access to trusted networks only. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling the administration server component entirely if it is not required for operations, as this eliminates the attack surface entirely. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework category of privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques. Regular security audits and monitoring of administrative access logs should be implemented to detect any unauthorized access attempts that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.