CVE-2010-3863 in JSecurity
Summary
by MITRE
Apache Shiro before 1.1.0, and JSecurity 0.9.x, does not canonicalize URI paths before comparing them to entries in the shiro.ini file, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via a crafted request, as demonstrated by the /./account/index.jsp URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2024
Apache Shiro versions prior to 1.1.0 and JSecurity 0.9.x contain a critical path traversal vulnerability that stems from insufficient URI path canonicalization during access control evaluation. This vulnerability manifests when the framework compares incoming request URIs against configured access control rules defined in the shiro.ini configuration file. The flaw occurs because the system fails to normalize or canonicalize URI paths before performing string comparisons, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that bypass intended security restrictions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the difference between how operating systems handle path normalization and how the security framework processes URI comparisons. When a request containing a path like /./account/index.jsp is submitted, the framework compares this path directly against configured rules without first normalizing it to its canonical form. The dot-segment notation ./ represents the current directory and should be resolved during path canonicalization, but Shiro's implementation fails to perform this critical normalization step. This allows attackers to append seemingly innocuous path segments that, when normalized, match legitimate access control entries while bypassing the intended restrictions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables unauthorized access to protected resources within applications using affected versions of Apache Shiro or JSecurity. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain access to restricted areas of web applications, potentially leading to data exposure, privilege escalation, or complete system compromise depending on the application's security model. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through simple URL manipulation without requiring authentication or specialized tools, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-22 Path Traversal and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as it can be used to bypass access controls and gain unauthorized access to protected resources. The issue represents a fundamental flaw in input validation and path normalization within the security framework, highlighting the importance of proper canonicalization in security-critical components. Organizations using affected versions should immediately upgrade to Apache Shiro 1.1.0 or later, which implements proper URI path canonicalization before access control evaluation. Additionally, administrators should review their shiro.ini configuration files to ensure that access control rules are properly defined and that no overly permissive entries exist that could be exploited through path traversal techniques.
The root cause of this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and canonicalization in security frameworks. Security systems must normalize all input paths before performing comparisons to prevent attackers from exploiting differences in path representation. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that even seemingly simple security controls can be bypassed through careful manipulation of input formats when proper canonicalization is not implemented. The fix implemented in Apache Shiro 1.1.0 involved adding proper URI path canonicalization to ensure that all request paths are normalized before access control decisions are made, preventing the bypass of security restrictions through path traversal techniques. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their applications using affected frameworks and implement proper path normalization as part of their security development lifecycle to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components.