CVE-2009-5048 in Jetty
Summary
by MITRE
Cookie Dump Servlet stored XSS vulnerability in jetty though 6.1.20.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2019
The CVE-2009-5048 vulnerability represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Jetty web server software through version 6.1.20, specifically within the Cookie Dump Servlet component. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before it is stored and subsequently rendered in web responses. The Cookie Dump Servlet serves as a diagnostic tool within Jetty that displays cookie information, making it accessible to authenticated users who can interact with the servlet directly or through crafted requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when malicious input is submitted through cookie parameters that are then stored within the servlet's data structures. When subsequent requests access the Cookie Dump Servlet, the stored malicious content is rendered in the web response without proper sanitization or encoding, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the victim's browser context. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists in the server's memory or storage until explicitly removed, creating a sustained threat vector that can affect multiple users over time. The flaw directly maps to CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate validation or encoding.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations using vulnerable Jetty versions, particularly those with administrative access to diagnostic servlets. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code in the context of a victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The impact extends beyond simple data exfiltration as the stored XSS can be used to establish persistent backdoors or facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting or privilege escalation within the web application environment. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically targeting the initial access phase through web application attacks, and represents a common vector for advanced persistent threat campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-5048 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Jetty versions to the latest stable releases that contain proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should disable or restrict access to diagnostic servlets such as the Cookie Dump Servlet in production environments, implementing strict access controls and authentication mechanisms. Additionally, comprehensive input validation should be implemented at multiple layers including application-level sanitization, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security scanning of web applications to identify similar stored XSS vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional defensive layers, while regular security training for developers should emphasize secure coding practices and the importance of proper data validation and encoding in web applications.