CVE-2009-4612 in Jetty
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the WebApp JSP Snoop page in Mort Bay Jetty 6.1.x through 6.1.21 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to the default URI under (1) jspsnoop/, (2) jspsnoop/ERROR/, and (3) jspsnoop/IOException/, and possibly the PATH_INFO to (4) snoop.jsp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2024
The CVE-2009-4612 vulnerability represents a significant cross-site scripting flaw in the Mort Bay Jetty web server implementation that affects versions 6.1.x through 6.1.21. This vulnerability specifically targets the WebApp JSP Snoop page functionality, which is designed to provide diagnostic information about the servlet environment. The flaw occurs within the PATH_INFO parameter handling mechanism of the Jetty server's default URI endpoints, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of victim sessions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple URI paths including jspsnoop/, jspsnoop/ERROR/, jspsnoop/IOException/, and potentially snoop.jsp, indicating a systemic issue in how the server processes and sanitizes input parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Jetty server's JSP handling components. When the server processes requests with malicious PATH_INFO parameters, it fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before rendering it in the web response. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed in the browser context of authenticated users. The vulnerability is classified as a classic XSS flaw under CWE-79, which specifically addresses the improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The issue manifests across multiple endpoints because the flawed input handling logic is consistently applied across the snoop page functionality, making it a widespread concern rather than an isolated incident.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4612 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, defacement of web applications, and data exfiltration from victim browsers. Since the affected system is a web server component, successful exploitation could compromise user sessions and potentially lead to privilege escalation within the application context. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where the Jetty server is used to host sensitive applications, as it provides attackers with a means to execute malicious code in the context of legitimate user sessions. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers can leverage XSS vulnerabilities to execute malicious scripts against victims. The impact is further amplified because the affected paths are part of default server functionality, making exploitation more likely in environments where diagnostic pages are enabled.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4612 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Jetty versions, as version 6.1.22 and later contain fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in custom applications. The remediation process involves disabling unnecessary diagnostic endpoints, particularly the snoop.jsp functionality, and ensuring that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before processing. Security measures should include implementing content security policies, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security assessments of web server configurations. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or lateral movement within compromised networks. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper parameter sanitization and output encoding in the server's response handling mechanisms, preventing the direct injection of malicious content into web pages.