CVE-2011-4605 in Jboss Enterprise Web
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) JNDI service, (2) HA-JNDI service, and (3) HAJNDIFactory invoker servlet in JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 4.3.0 CP10 and 5.1.2, Web Platform 5.1.2, SOA Platform 4.2.0.CP05 and 4.3.0.CP05, Portal Platform 4.3 CP07 and 5.2.x before 5.2.2, and BRMS Platform before 5.3.0 do not properly restrict write access, which allows remote attackers to add, delete, or modify items in a JNDI tree via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4605 represents a critical security flaw in multiple JBoss platform components including JNDI service, HA-JNDI service, and HAJNDIFactory invoker servlet. This issue affects various JBoss Enterprise Application Platform versions including 4.3.0 CP10 and 5.1.2, Web Platform 5.1.2, SOA Platform 4.2.0.CP05 and 4.3.0.CP05, Portal Platform 4.3 CP07 and 5.2.x before 5.2.2, and BRMS Platform before 5.3.0. The core problem stems from inadequate access control mechanisms that fail to properly restrict write operations within the JNDI tree structure.
The technical flaw manifests as insufficient validation of user privileges when processing requests to modify JNDI resources. This allows unauthorized remote attackers to exploit the system through unspecified vectors to perform unauthorized operations including adding new entries, deleting existing entries, or modifying the content of items within the JNDI tree. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor for malicious actors to manipulate the application's naming service without proper authentication or authorization. This type of flaw falls under CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through service access manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of JNDI-based applications. Attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious entries into the naming service, potentially redirecting application traffic to malicious endpoints or executing arbitrary code through compromised JNDI lookups. The attack surface extends beyond simple data manipulation to include potential privilege escalation and lateral movement within networks where JBoss applications are deployed. Organizations running affected JBoss platforms face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential complete system compromise when this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate deployment of vendor patches and updates for all affected JBoss platform versions. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to JNDI service endpoints, particularly limiting access to trusted administrative networks only. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual JNDI access patterns or unauthorized modifications to naming service entries. Additionally, implementing proper authentication and authorization controls for JNDI operations, along with regular security assessments and penetration testing, will help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the application infrastructure. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security training for administrators and developers to understand the importance of proper access control mechanisms in enterprise application platforms.