CVE-2012-2672 in Mojarra
Summary
by MITRE
Oracle Mojarra 2.1.7 does not properly "clean up" the FacesContext reference during startup, which allows local users to obtain context information an access resources from another WAR file by calling the FacesContext.getCurrentInstance function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2672 affects Oracle Mojarra 2.1.7, which represents a critical flaw in the JavaServer Faces implementation that enables unauthorized information disclosure and resource access across application boundaries. This issue stems from improper cleanup of the FacesContext reference during the application startup phase, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by local attackers to gain access to sensitive context information and resources belonging to different web application modules.
The technical flaw manifests when the FacesContext object fails to properly release its references during the application initialization process, leaving behind dangling references that can be accessed through the FacesContext.getCurrentInstance() method. This improper resource management creates a scenario where a local attacker can leverage the exposed context information to access resources from other WAR files deployed within the same application server instance. The vulnerability essentially allows for cross-application information leakage and potential privilege escalation within the same server environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations deploying Oracle Mojarra 2.1.7 in production environments. The local access requirement means that attackers must already have some level of system access, but once exploited, the vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, configuration information, and potentially enable further attacks against other applications within the same server instance. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks targeting the broader application ecosystem.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-470, which addresses the use of insecure objects in the context of web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with improper resource cleanup patterns that can lead to information disclosure issues. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access through the exploitation of application-level flaws, potentially enabling attackers to move laterally within the application infrastructure. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and implement proper isolation measures between applications to mitigate the risk of cross-application resource access.
The remediation approach requires immediate deployment of Oracle's security patches addressing the FacesContext cleanup issue, along with comprehensive application server hardening measures. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and application isolation mechanisms to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar resource management issues within other components of the application stack. Additionally, monitoring for unusual access patterns and context information retrieval attempts can help detect potential exploitation attempts and provide early warning of security incidents related to this vulnerability class.