CVE-2011-2196 in JBoss Enterprise Application Platform
Summary
by MITRE
jboss-seam.jar in the JBoss Seam 2 framework 2.2.x and earlier, as distributed in Red Hat JBoss Enterprise SOA Platform 4.3.0.CP05 and 5.1.0; JBoss Enterprise Application Platform (aka JBoss EAP or JBEAP) 4.3.0, 4.3.0.CP09, and 5.1.1; and JBoss Enterprise Web Platform 5.1.1, does not properly restrict use of Expression Language (EL) statements in FacesMessages during page exception handling, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Java code via a crafted URL to an application. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2011-1484.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-2196 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the JBoss Seam 2 framework that affects multiple versions of Red Hat JBoss Enterprise platforms. This vulnerability specifically targets the improper restriction of Expression Language (EL) statements within FacesMessages during page exception handling, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary Java code through crafted URLs. The flaw exists in jboss-seam.jar components distributed across various JBoss Enterprise SOA Platform, Application Platform, and Web Platform versions, making it particularly widespread and dangerous for organizations relying on these enterprise frameworks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it exploits the framework's exception handling mechanisms, which are typically expected to be secure and isolated from user input.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the FacesMessages component of the JBoss Seam framework. When exceptions occur during page rendering, the framework attempts to display error messages that may contain user-provided data. However, the implementation fails to properly escape or restrict Expression Language expressions that could be embedded within these messages, allowing attackers to inject malicious EL code that gets evaluated during the rendering process. This represents a classic server-side template injection vulnerability where user-controllable input flows directly into executable code contexts. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and specifically relates to improper handling of expression language within web frameworks. The incomplete fix for the previously disclosed CVE-2011-1484 exacerbates the issue, as it demonstrates a pattern of insufficient security hardening in the framework's handling of user input during error conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2196 is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing affected JBoss platforms. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary Java code with the privileges of the application server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to sensitive corporate resources. The attack vector requires only a crafted URL, making it easily exploitable through web-based attacks such as cross-site scripting or direct URL manipulation. Once exploited, attackers can perform actions including but not limited to reading/writing files, executing system commands, establishing reverse shells, and escalating privileges within the application environment. The vulnerability affects the core application framework rather than individual applications, meaning that all applications running on the affected JBoss platforms are potentially at risk, regardless of their specific implementation or security measures. This makes the impact particularly damaging for large enterprise environments where multiple applications may be hosted on a single platform instance.
Organizations affected by CVE-2011-2196 should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to protect their systems. The primary recommendation is to upgrade to patched versions of the JBoss Seam framework and affected platform versions, as Red Hat has released security updates addressing this vulnerability. In cases where immediate upgrades are not feasible, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to filter and sanitize URL parameters, particularly those containing special characters that could indicate EL injection attempts. Network-level mitigations such as restricting access to application endpoints and implementing strict input validation at the application level can provide temporary protection. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their applications to identify any custom code that might be vulnerable to similar expression language injection patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python," as the exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected systems. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual patterns in application logs that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around error handling and exception reporting mechanisms.