CVE-2009-1380 in JBoss Enterprise Application Platform
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in JMX-Console in JBossAs in Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform (aka JBoss EAP or JBEAP) 4.2 before 4.2.0.CP08 and 4.3 before 4.3.0.CP07 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the filter parameter, related to the key property and the position of quote and colon characters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
The CVE-2009-1380 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the JMX-Console component of Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform versions 4.2 before 4.2.0.CP08 and 4.3 before 4.3.0.CP07. This vulnerability specifically targets the management console interface that provides administrators with access to various application server monitoring and configuration capabilities. The flaw resides in how the console processes input parameters, particularly the filter parameter, which is used to query and display server information through the JMX (Java Management Extensions) interface. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the console's web interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the filter parameter in the JMX-Console URL structure. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that leverage the specific positioning of quote and colon characters within the parameter values to bypass existing security controls. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability's classification as a CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) indicates that the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, which violates fundamental web security principles and creates persistent attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with access to the JMX management console which typically contains sensitive administrative information and server configuration details. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to the application server's management interface, execute arbitrary commands, or escalate privileges within the JBoss environment. This represents a significant risk to enterprise environments where JBoss EAP serves as a core application platform, as the management console often contains credentials, configuration data, and administrative controls that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of the platform indicates a widespread exposure across affected deployments, making it a high-priority target for exploitation in enterprise environments.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official patches released by Red Hat as part of the JBoss EAP 4.2.0.CP08 and 4.3.0.CP07 maintenance releases. Organizations should immediately upgrade to these patched versions to eliminate the XSS vector and restore proper input validation. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization at the application level, including the use of proper output encoding for all dynamic content, can provide defense-in-depth measures. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and proper parameter validation can help detect and block malicious payloads. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques, as attackers can use the XSS vector to deliver malicious payloads and establish persistent access through the compromised management interface. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual access patterns to the JMX console and establish proper network segmentation to limit exposure of management interfaces to untrusted networks.