CVE-2010-0684 in ActiveMQ
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in createDestination.action in Apache ActiveMQ before 5.3.1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the JMSDestination parameter in a queue action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2026
The CVE-2010-0684 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Apache ActiveMQ's web administration interface, specifically within the createDestination.action servlet. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 5.3.1 and exposes the messaging system to remote authenticated attackers who can leverage the flaw to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests when the JMSDestination parameter is manipulated during queue creation operations, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code that gets executed when other users view the affected administrative pages. The flaw resides in the insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web console's destination creation functionality, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited by users with valid authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper sanitization of user-supplied input within the JMSDestination parameter processing. When administrators or authorized users navigate to the queue creation interface and submit malicious input through this parameter, the application fails to properly encode or validate the input before rendering it in the web response. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled content can be injected into the web page's DOM structure, enabling the execution of malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent XSS issue because the malicious content is stored within the application's data storage and executed whenever the affected page is accessed, rather than requiring a direct user interaction with a malicious link. According to CWE-79, this represents a classic cross-site scripting weakness where the application fails to properly validate and sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-0684 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with significant privileges within the authenticated session context of the vulnerable ActiveMQ instance. An attacker with valid credentials can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify administrative interfaces, or even execute commands that could compromise the entire messaging infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning because ActiveMQ administration interfaces often contain sensitive configuration data, monitoring capabilities, and control functions that could be exploited to gain deeper access to the underlying system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which describes credential harvesting through phishing attacks, as the compromised session could be used to escalate privileges or access additional system resources. The vulnerability also supports lateral movement within networks where ActiveMQ serves as a messaging backbone, potentially enabling attackers to pivot to other systems that rely on the messaging infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-0684 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to Apache ActiveMQ 5.3.1 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the scope of potential exploitation, particularly by restricting administrative access to trusted networks and implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious parameter values and anomalous administrative activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of regular security updates and the need for robust web application security practices, particularly in enterprise messaging systems where administrative interfaces are frequently targeted by sophisticated attackers. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their messaging infrastructure to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that could compromise their operational security posture.