CVE-2012-5633 in CXF
Summary
by MITRE
The URIMappingInterceptor in Apache CXF before 2.5.8, 2.6.x before 2.6.5, and 2.7.x before 2.7.2, when using the WSS4JInInterceptor, bypasses WS-Security processing, which allows remote attackers to obtain access to SOAP services via an HTTP GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5633 represents a critical security flaw in Apache CXF web services framework that affects multiple version ranges including 2.5.x before 2.5.8, 2.6.x before 2.6.5, and 2.7.x before 2.7.2. This issue specifically targets the URIMappingInterceptor component when integrated with WSS4JInInterceptor, creating a dangerous bypass condition that undermines the intended WS-Security protections. The flaw enables remote attackers to circumvent authentication and authorization mechanisms through seemingly innocuous HTTP GET requests, effectively allowing unauthorized access to protected SOAP services. This vulnerability directly impacts the fundamental security posture of web services implementations that rely on Apache CXF for secure message processing and authentication.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of URI mapping within the interceptor chain of Apache CXF. When the URIMappingInterceptor processes incoming requests, it fails to properly validate or enforce security constraints that should normally be applied by the WSS4JInInterceptor. This creates a gap in the security pipeline where requests can bypass the normal WS-Security processing flow, particularly affecting the authentication and message integrity checks that are essential for secure web service communication. The flaw occurs during the request processing phase where the URI mapping logic does not adequately consider the security context established by the WSS4J interceptor, allowing malicious actors to exploit this inconsistency.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5633 is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing Apache CXF web services. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to SOAP services that should be protected by WS-Security mechanisms, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized operations on critical business systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through simple HTTP GET requests, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of service behavior, and potential escalation of privileges within their web service environments. This vulnerability undermines the trust model of web service security and can lead to compliance violations in regulated environments.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to patched versions of Apache CXF, specifically versions 2.5.8, 2.6.5, or 2.7.2 and later. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper network segmentation, monitoring for unusual GET request patterns, and ensuring that all web service endpoints are properly configured with appropriate security constraints. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their web service implementations to identify and remediate similar security gaps in their infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper interceptor chain management and security validation in enterprise web service frameworks.