CVE-2012-3427 in JBoss Enterprise Application Platform
Summary
by MITRE
EC2 Amazon Machine Image (AMI) in JBoss Enterprise Application Platform (EAP) 5.1.2 uses 755 permissions for /var/cache/jboss-ec2-eap/, which allows local users to read sensitive information such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) credentials by reading files in the directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-3427 represents a critical access control flaw within the JBoss Enterprise Application Platform version 5.1.2 specifically affecting the EC2 Amazon Machine Image configuration. This issue stems from the improper file system permissions assigned to a critical directory structure within the application platform's caching mechanism. The affected directory path /var/cache/jboss-ec2-eap/ utilizes 755 permissions, which grants read access to all users on the system while maintaining execute permissions for the owner. This configuration creates a significant security risk as it allows any local user to access sensitive information stored within this cache directory.
The technical flaw manifests through the misconfigured directory permissions that expose AWS credentials and other sensitive data to unauthorized local access. The 755 permission setting provides read access to all users, meaning that any user account with access to the system can traverse to the specified directory and extract cached information. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security hygiene in the default installation configuration of the JBoss EAP platform. The exposed credentials could include authentication tokens, access keys, or other sensitive information required for AWS service access, potentially enabling attackers to escalate their privileges or gain unauthorized access to cloud resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as local users with read access to the cached credentials could potentially abuse this information to perform unauthorized actions within the AWS environment. This includes but is not limited to creating or modifying resources, accessing sensitive data stored in AWS services, or establishing persistent access to cloud infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges or network access to exploit, making it an attractive target for attackers who have already gained a foothold on the system. The exposure of AWS credentials through this cache directory could lead to significant financial losses, data breaches, and compliance violations for organizations relying on cloud infrastructure.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate permission corrections and long-term configuration hardening measures. The primary fix involves changing the directory permissions from 755 to more restrictive settings such as 700, ensuring that only the owner account can read, write, and execute files within the directory. Additionally, organizations should implement regular security audits to verify proper file system permissions and conduct privilege reviews to ensure that default installations do not expose sensitive information. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which addresses improper permissions for a resource, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1552.001, which involves credentials in files, and T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local system access. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive directories and establish proper access controls for cloud service credentials within application environments.