CVE-2013-4452 in JBoss Operations Network
Summary
by MITRE
Red Hat JBoss Operations Network 3.1.2 uses world-readable permissions for the (1) server and (2) agent configuration files, which allows local users to obtain authentication credentials and other unspecified sensitive information by reading these files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4452 affects Red Hat JBoss Operations Network version 3.1.2, a comprehensive monitoring and management platform for enterprise IT infrastructure. This issue represents a critical misconfiguration that undermines the security posture of the system through improper file permission settings. The vulnerability specifically impacts two critical configuration files within the JBoss ON ecosystem, namely the server configuration file and the agent configuration file, which contain sensitive authentication credentials and operational parameters necessary for system functionality.
The technical flaw stems from the implementation of world-readable permissions on critical configuration files, a deviation from standard security practices that should enforce strict access controls. When files are configured with world-readable permissions, any local user on the system can access these files without authentication requirements, creating an inherent privilege escalation vector. The configuration files in question contain authentication tokens, connection strings, and other sensitive data that could enable unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges or access additional system resources. This misconfiguration directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates an attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the entire monitoring infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with comprehensive access to the JBoss ON environment's operational parameters. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can potentially gain unauthorized access to monitoring data, manipulate system configurations, and establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The exposure of authentication credentials in these files could enable attackers to impersonate legitimate system components, leading to potential data exfiltration, system manipulation, or disruption of monitoring services. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for lateral movement within the network, as compromised credentials could be used to access other systems that trust the JBoss ON infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, which specifically addresses cases where critical system resources are assigned incorrect permissions, making them accessible to unauthorized users. From an attack framework perspective, this issue maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through access to sensitive files and credential access through exploitation of weak file permissions. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of ATT&CK technique T1078: Valid Accounts, as it enables attackers to leverage legitimate system credentials that should remain protected. Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures including proper file permission configuration, regular security audits of system files, and implementation of automated monitoring for unauthorized file access attempts. The incident highlights the importance of maintaining proper security configurations as a fundamental defense mechanism against insider threats and privilege escalation attacks.