CVE-2011-3564 in GlassFish Enterprise Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle GlassFish Enterprise Server 2.1.1 allows local users to affect confidentiality via unknown vectors related to Administration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3564 resides within Oracle GlassFish Enterprise Server version 2.1.1, representing a critical security weakness that undermines the confidentiality of sensitive data within the administrative framework of this enterprise application server. This unspecified flaw manifests within the administration subsystem, suggesting a fundamental weakness in how the server handles administrative operations and potentially exposes underlying data structures or processes to unauthorized access. The local nature of the vulnerability indicates that an attacker must already have access to the system, typically through legitimate administrative credentials or system-level access, but the impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to compromise data confidentiality.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and potentially CWE-310, relating to cryptographic issues that may affect data confidentiality. Within the ATT&CK framework, this weakness maps to privilege escalation and credential access tactics, as attackers can leverage administrative functions to gain unauthorized access to confidential information. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw may involve multiple attack paths within the administration interface, potentially affecting various administrative functions such as configuration management, user authentication processes, or data handling within the administrative console.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3564 extends beyond immediate data compromise, as it represents a potential gateway for more sophisticated attacks that could lead to complete system takeover or data exfiltration. Organizations utilizing GlassFish Enterprise Server 2.1.1 face significant risk, particularly in environments where administrative privileges are shared or where security boundaries are not strictly enforced. The vulnerability's classification as local access means that it requires initial compromise of system credentials or physical access, but once exploited, could provide attackers with access to administrative functions that control the entire server configuration and potentially access to sensitive data stored within the application server environment.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the GlassFish Enterprise Server to the latest available version, as Oracle would have addressed this vulnerability through security updates. Organizations should implement strict administrative access controls, including mandatory multi-factor authentication for administrative functions, regular credential rotation, and comprehensive monitoring of administrative activities. Additionally, network segmentation and the principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date enterprise application server software and implementing robust administrative security practices to prevent unauthorized access to critical system functions.