CVE-2008-5115 in Java System Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Sun Java System Identity Manager 6.0 through 6.0 SP4, 7.0, and 7.1 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that update the password via idm/admin/changeself.jsp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2024
The CVE-2008-5115 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting Sun Java System Identity Manager versions 6.0 through 6.0 SP4 and versions 7.0 through 7.1. This vulnerability resides within the administrative interface of the identity management platform, specifically targeting the password update functionality accessible through the idm/admin/changeself.jsp endpoint. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate administrative sessions by crafting malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrators, thereby compromising the integrity of the authentication system.
This CSRF vulnerability operates by exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and the user's browser. When an administrator accesses the identity manager's administrative interface, their session remains authenticated until explicitly terminated. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation within the password change functionality. Attackers can construct specially crafted web pages or send malicious links that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, automatically submit requests to modify the administrator's password without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability specifically targets the changeself.jsp page which handles self-service password updates, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to administrative privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Successful exploitation can result in complete administrative control over the identity management system, enabling attackers to modify user accounts, reset passwords for any administrator, and potentially access sensitive organizational data. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Sun Java System Identity Manager for identity and access management, particularly those with complex user hierarchies where administrative privileges are frequently used. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by threat actors with limited advanced skills. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to critical identity infrastructure, potential data breaches, and complete compromise of their identity management ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5115 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available security updates from Oracle. Organizations should implement proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms that validate request authenticity through unique tokens generated per session and validated on each request. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit administrative access to critical systems, while monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized password change attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which classifies cross-site request forgery as a well-known weakness in web applications, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1566.002 which covers phishing with malicious attachments and links. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the identity management infrastructure, while security awareness training should be implemented to educate administrators about recognizing potential CSRF attacks. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and ensuring proper session management practices can provide additional layers of defense against similar vulnerabilities.