CVE-2009-4609 in Jetty
Summary
by MITRE
The Dump Servlet in Mort Bay Jetty 6.x and 7.0.0 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information about internal variables and other data via a request to a URI ending in /dump/, as demonstrated by discovering the value of the getPathTranslated variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4609 affects the Mort Bay Jetty web server versions 6.x and 7.0.0, specifically within the Dump Servlet component that exposes internal server variables and configuration details. This flaw represents a significant information disclosure vulnerability that can provide attackers with sensitive system information through a simple URI request pattern ending in /dump/. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200, which deals with improper output handling, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.001 for Data from Information Repositories, as it allows adversaries to extract internal server state information that should remain confidential.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the Dump Servlet's design flaw where it provides unrestricted access to internal server variables without proper authentication or access control mechanisms. When an attacker sends a request to a URI ending in /dump/, the servlet responds by exposing internal variables including the getPathTranslated variable, which reveals path translation information that can be used for further exploitation. This occurs because the servlet operates with default configurations that do not implement proper authorization checks, allowing any remote user to access this sensitive information regardless of their privileges or role within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed internal variables can serve as valuable intelligence for attackers planning more sophisticated attacks. The getPathTranslated variable and other exposed data can reveal internal path structures, server configurations, and potentially sensitive operational details that can be leveraged for privilege escalation, directory traversal attacks, or further reconnaissance activities. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using older Jetty versions where the default security configurations have not been properly hardened, making it a critical concern for systems that have not undergone recent security updates or configuration reviews.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of Jetty that address this information disclosure vulnerability, configuring proper access controls for the Dump Servlet, and disabling the servlet entirely in production environments where it is not required for legitimate administrative purposes. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual access patterns to URI endpoints ending in /dump/ or similar information disclosure paths. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following security best practices such as the principle of least privilege and the defense in depth strategy, where multiple layers of security controls are implemented to protect against information disclosure attacks that can compromise entire system architectures.