CVE-2013-1515 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 ADMIN Interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1515 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 in the ADMIN Interface of the GlassFish Server, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to compromise system integrity. The administrative interface serves as a primary control point for managing server configurations, applications, and security policies, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access and system manipulation.
The technical flaw exploited in this vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization checks and validation mechanisms within the ADMIN Interface. Attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious commands or modify critical server configurations without proper authentication. The vulnerability's classification as integrity-related indicates that the flaw allows for unauthorized modification of system data, configuration parameters, or application content, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, specifically within administrative interfaces where privileged operations should be strictly protected.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-1515 extends beyond simple data integrity violations, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive server resources. Remote exploitation means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit this vulnerability, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential damage. Organizations using affected GlassFish Server versions face risks including unauthorized application deployment, configuration changes that could disable security features, and potential data breaches through manipulation of server-side processes. The vulnerability's nature aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers malicious file execution through compromised administrative interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected GlassFish Server installations to the latest available versions that contain security fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate administrative interfaces from public networks, enforce strict firewall rules limiting access to administrative ports, and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious administrative activity. Additionally, regular security audits of administrative interface configurations, implementation of multi-factor authentication for administrative access, and comprehensive monitoring of system integrity should be established. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patches in staging environments before deployment to production systems to ensure operational stability while addressing the security vulnerability.