CVE-2014-3586 in Enterprise Application Platform
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration for the Command Line Interface in Red Hat Enterprise Application Platform before 6.4.0 and WildFly (formerly JBoss Application Server) uses weak permissions for .jboss-cli-history, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3586 represents a critical configuration flaw in the Command Line Interface component of Red Hat Enterprise Application Platform versions prior to 6.4.0 and WildFly versions that were based on the older JBoss Application Server. This issue stems from the insecure default permissions assigned to the .jboss-cli-history file, which serves as a command history storage mechanism for the CLI interface. The weakness lies in the fact that this sensitive file is created with overly permissive access controls, allowing local users to read its contents without proper authorization. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-732 as improper permission assignment for critical resources, which directly violates the principle of least privilege in security design.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through local privilege escalation or lateral movement scenarios where an attacker gains access to a system running the affected application platform. The .jboss-cli-history file contains command execution logs that may include sensitive information such as administrative commands, connection parameters, or other potentially exploitable data. When this file is created with world-readable permissions, it becomes accessible to any local user on the system, creating a significant information disclosure risk. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the attack surface may include various methods of accessing this history file, potentially including direct file system access, privilege escalation, or other local attack vectors that leverage the weak permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the command history may contain sensitive administrative operations that could be leveraged for further compromise. Attackers could potentially extract credentials, connection strings, or other operational details that would aid in conducting more sophisticated attacks against the application platform or underlying infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users share the same system or where least privilege principles are not strictly enforced. The risk is amplified in enterprise environments where application administrators frequently use the CLI for sensitive operations, making the history file a treasure trove of potential attack vectors. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1005 (Data from Local System) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as it leverages local system access to extract sensitive information and potentially gain insights into valid administrative accounts and operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to address the configuration weakness. The primary remediation involves ensuring that the .jboss-cli-history file is created with restrictive permissions, typically limiting access to the specific user account that owns the file. System administrators should review and modify the default CLI configuration to enforce proper file access controls, ensuring that only authorized users can read the history file. This remediation aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards for access control and information protection. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing automated monitoring for file permission changes and regular security audits to detect similar configuration issues across their infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper default security configurations in enterprise software, as insecure defaults can provide attackers with easy entry points into otherwise secure systems.