CVE-2010-1587 in ActiveMQ
Summary
by MITRE
The Jetty ResourceHandler in Apache ActiveMQ 5.x before 5.3.2 and 5.4.x before 5.4.0 allows remote attackers to read JSP source code via a // (slash slash) initial substring in a URI for (1) admin/index.jsp, (2) admin/queues.jsp, or (3) admin/topics.jsp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1587 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Jetty ResourceHandler component of Apache ActiveMQ versions prior to 5.3.2 and 5.4.0. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative web interface of ActiveMQ, which is commonly exposed to remote networks for management purposes. The flaw manifests when processing URIs that begin with a double slash sequence, allowing unauthorized remote attackers to access sensitive JSP source code files through crafted requests.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the ResourceHandler implementation. When a URI starting with // is processed, the system fails to properly sanitize or normalize the path traversal sequence, leading to unexpected behavior in the resource resolution process. This allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and directly retrieve the source code of administrative JSP pages including admin/index.jsp, admin/queues.jsp, and admin/topics.jsp. The affected files contain sensitive configuration information, system state data, and potentially exploitable code that could aid in further attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations running vulnerable ActiveMQ instances. Attackers who exploit this flaw can obtain complete source code of administrative interfaces, which may contain hard-coded credentials, system configuration details, and implementation logic that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or additional attack vectors. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor for information gathering that could lead to more serious compromises. According to CWE-22, this represents a path traversal vulnerability where insufficient input validation allows access to unintended resources, while the ATT&CK framework would classify this under initial access techniques through exploitation of remote services.
Organizations should immediately apply the patches released by Apache for versions 5.3.2 and 5.4.0 to remediate this vulnerability. The fix involves implementing proper URI normalization and input validation within the ResourceHandler component to prevent double slash sequences from being processed as valid path traversal indicators. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to limit direct access to ActiveMQ administrative interfaces, and access controls should be strengthened through authentication mechanisms. Regular security assessments of web applications and service configurations are essential to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities that could be exploited in other components of the system architecture.