CVE-2010-3700 in SpringSource Spring Security
Summary
by MITRE
VMware SpringSource Spring Security 2.x before 2.0.6 and 3.x before 3.0.4, and Acegi Security 1.0.0 through 1.0.7, as used in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 6.1 and 7.0, allows remote attackers to bypass security constraints via a path parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-3700 represents a critical security flaw in the Spring Security framework that was widely deployed within enterprise application environments, particularly affecting IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 6.1 and 7.0. This issue stems from improper handling of path parameters within the security constraint mechanisms, creating a pathway for remote attackers to circumvent authentication and authorization controls that should have protected sensitive application resources. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of Spring Security 2.x prior to 2.0.6 and 3.x prior to 3.0.4, alongside the older Acegi Security 1.0.0 through 1.0.7 implementations, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on these security frameworks for their web applications.
The technical flaw manifests when the Spring Security framework processes path parameters that contain encoded or specially crafted sequences, allowing attackers to manipulate the security context validation process. This occurs because the security framework fails to properly sanitize or validate path parameters that may contain sequences such as double slashes, encoded characters, or other path traversal elements that could alter the intended security boundary. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and specifically relates to path traversal attacks that exploit how the system resolves and validates resource paths. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to craft requests that bypass the security constraints by manipulating the path parameter to reference resources that should have been protected by authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control bypass, as it fundamentally undermines the security architecture of applications that rely on Spring Security for protection. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to access restricted resources, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data, administrative functions, or other protected application components. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where WebSphere Application Server is commonly deployed, as it affects a significant portion of the enterprise application security infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or other malicious activities that would normally be prevented by proper authentication and authorization controls. The impact is amplified when considering that this vulnerability affects multiple versions of the security framework, making it a widespread concern across many enterprise deployments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through patching the Spring Security framework to versions 2.0.6 or 3.0.4, respectively, for the affected versions. The patching process should be carefully coordinated with IBM WebSphere Application Server updates to ensure compatibility and prevent service disruptions. Additionally, network-level mitigations such as implementing proper input validation at proxy servers, web application firewalls, or load balancers can provide temporary protection while full patches are deployed. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual path parameter patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure least privilege principles are maintained. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security layers such as request validation, path normalization, and comprehensive logging of security-relevant operations to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and path handling in security frameworks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through various attack vectors.