CVE-2013-1508 in GlassFish Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle GlassFish Server component in Oracle Sun Middleware Products 3.0.1 and 3.1.2 allows remote attackers to affect integrity via vectors related to REST Interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1508 resides within the Oracle GlassFish Server component of Oracle Sun Middleware Products, specifically affecting versions 3.0.1 and 3.1.2. This unspecified weakness manifests through the REST Interface functionality, creating a potential pathway for remote attackers to compromise system integrity. The GlassFish Server serves as a comprehensive application server platform that supports enterprise java applications, making this vulnerability particularly concerning given its potential to impact critical business applications and services. The REST Interface component provides web services capabilities that enable remote interaction with the server through standard http protocols, which inadvertently exposes this vulnerability to attackers who can leverage it without requiring local system access.
The technical flaw within the REST Interface implementation appears to stem from inadequate validation or sanitization of input parameters that are processed through the interface. This allows malicious actors to craft specially crafted requests that can manipulate the server's behavior and potentially alter system integrity. The vulnerability's classification as an integrity-focused weakness indicates that attackers can modify data or system state rather than simply gaining unauthorized access or causing denial of service. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability description suggests that the precise mechanism through which the integrity compromise occurs has not been fully detailed in public documentation, though this does not diminish its severity. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from improper handling of user-supplied input, insufficient authorization checks, or flawed data processing within the web service layer.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing Oracle GlassFish Server in production environments. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this weakness can potentially modify configuration files, alter application data, or manipulate system settings through the REST interface. The impact extends beyond simple data corruption as attackers might use this capability to establish persistent access points or create backdoors within the application server environment. Organizations relying on GlassFish Server for mission-critical applications face potential business disruption, data integrity compromise, and regulatory compliance issues if this vulnerability is exploited. The remote nature of the attack vector means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target network, making it particularly dangerous for publicly exposed servers.
Security mitigations for CVE-2013-1508 should prioritize immediate patch application from Oracle, as this represents the most effective defense against the known vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to GlassFish Server instances and deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter traffic to the REST interface endpoints. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation at the application level, disabling unnecessary REST interface features, and conducting regular security assessments of the server configuration. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and may also relate to CWE-345, concerning insufficient verification of data authenticity. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under the attack technique of privilege escalation or data manipulation within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, potentially enabling adversaries to maintain persistent access and expand their control within the compromised environment.