CVE-2012-3532 in JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the GateIn Portal component in JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform 5.2.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of unspecified victims via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2018
The CVE-2012-3532 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the GateIn Portal component of JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform versions 5.2.2 and earlier. This vulnerability exists at the core of web application security principles where unauthorized parties can manipulate authenticated users into performing actions they did not intend to execute. The flaw specifically resides in the portal's handling of authentication tokens and session management mechanisms, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the fundamental security model of the platform.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within the GateIn Portal framework. Attackers can construct malicious web pages or send crafted requests that, when executed by authenticated users, trigger unintended operations within the portal environment. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft to potentially enable complete account compromise and privilege escalation within the portal's administrative boundaries. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The attack vector typically involves tricking users into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised websites while maintaining an active session with the vulnerable portal, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently access multiple applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3532 is severe for organizations utilizing JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform, as it enables attackers to perform authenticated actions on behalf of legitimate users without their knowledge or consent. This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized data modification, account takeovers, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the enterprise network. The unspecified nature of victim targets suggests that any authenticated user within the portal environment could be compromised, creating a broad attack surface that affects both standard users and administrators. Organizations may experience significant business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses due to unauthorized access to sensitive enterprise data and systems. The vulnerability's presence in the portal component also raises concerns about the overall security posture of the JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3532 should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the GateIn Portal framework, including the deployment of unique, unpredictable tokens for each user session and proper validation of request origins. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform versions to address the underlying implementation flaws. Security controls should also include web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious cross-site requests, enhanced session management protocols, and regular security assessments of portal components. Additionally, user education regarding phishing and social engineering attacks remains critical, as many CSRF exploits rely on user interaction with malicious content. The remediation process should align with ATT&CK framework's T1566 technique for Phishing and T1078 for Valid Accounts, ensuring comprehensive protection against both automated exploitation and targeted social engineering approaches that leverage this vulnerability.