CVE-2013-1879 in ActiveMQ
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in scheduled.jsp in Apache ActiveMQ 5.8.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving the "cron of a message."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2022
The CVE-2013-1879 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Apache ActiveMQ versions 5.8.0 and earlier, specifically within the scheduled.jsp web interface component. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data that is processed through the message scheduling functionality. The flaw is particularly concerning because it occurs in the administrative interface where legitimate users might configure scheduled message deliveries, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to exploit the system's trust relationships.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious message with a specially formatted cron expression containing embedded script code. When the scheduled.jsp page processes this input, it fails to properly escape or sanitize the cron expression before rendering it in the web interface. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users who view the scheduled message configuration. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent XSS attack since the malicious payload is stored within the system and executed whenever the affected page is accessed.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using Apache ActiveMQ as their messaging infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The impact extends beyond simple data theft since compromised users could potentially gain administrative access to the messaging system, leading to message interception, modification, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the web administration console, which is typically accessible to users with appropriate permissions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple administrators interact with the system.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Apache ActiveMQ version 5.9.0 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to filter suspicious payloads, restricting administrative access to the web console, and conducting regular security assessments of web interfaces. The fix typically involves ensuring that all user-supplied input is properly escaped before being rendered in the browser context, particularly for dynamic content generation in scheduled message configurations.