CVE-2012-4529 in JBoss Enterprise Application Platform
Summary
by MITRE
The org.apache.catalina.connector.Response.encodeURL method in Red Hat JBoss Web 7.1.x and earlier, when the tracking mode is set to COOKIE, sends the jsessionid in the URL of the first response of a session, which allows remote attackers to obtain the session id (1) via a man-in-the-middle attack or (2) by reading a log.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4529 represents a critical session management flaw within the Red Hat JBoss Web 7.1.x and earlier versions. This issue specifically affects applications that utilize the COOKIE tracking mode for session management, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers through multiple attack vectors. The flaw stems from the improper handling of session identifiers within the HTTP response structure, where the jsessionid parameter is inadvertently included in URL redirects or responses even when cookie-based session tracking is explicitly configured.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the org.apache.catalina.connector.Response.encodeURL method, which fails to properly respect the configured session tracking mode settings. When a session is established and the tracking mode is set to COOKIE, the system should ensure that session identifiers are transmitted exclusively through HTTP cookies rather than URL parameters. However, this method incorrectly includes the jsessionid in the URL of the first response, effectively bypassing the intended security mechanism and exposing session identifiers to potential interception.
This vulnerability creates substantial operational impact by enabling two primary attack vectors that can compromise user sessions and application security. The first vector involves man-in-the-middle attacks where network traffic can be intercepted to extract the session identifier from URL parameters, while the second vector allows attackers to obtain session IDs through log file analysis. Both attack methods represent significant threats to application security as they can lead to session hijacking, unauthorized access to user accounts, and potential privilege escalation within the affected applications.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session expiration, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through network sniffing and T1567 for bypassing security controls. Organizations running affected JBoss Web versions face heightened risk of session hijacking attacks, particularly in environments where network traffic is not properly secured or where log files containing sensitive session identifiers are accessible to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability essentially undermines the fundamental security principle of keeping session identifiers confidential and out of URL parameters where they are more susceptible to exposure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected JBoss Web installations to version 7.2.0 or later where this issue has been resolved. Organizations should also implement network security measures including SSL/TLS encryption to protect against man-in-the-middle attacks and establish proper log sanitization procedures to prevent session identifiers from being stored in accessible log files. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any applications still running vulnerable versions and ensure that session tracking modes are properly configured to enforce cookie-based session management exclusively.