CVE-2014-9301 in Server
Summary
by MITRE
Server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in the proxy servlet in Alfresco Community Edition before 5.0.a allows remote attackers to trigger outbound requests to intranet servers, conduct port scans, and read arbitrary files via a crafted URI in the endpoint parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The CVE-2014-9301 vulnerability represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw within Alfresco Community Edition versions prior to 5.0.a, specifically affecting the proxy servlet component. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to manipulate the application's proxy functionality to make unauthorized outbound requests to internal network resources. The flaw resides in how the proxy servlet processes the endpoint parameter, which accepts user-supplied URI values without proper validation or sanitization. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to bypass network segmentation and access internal systems that would normally be protected from external network access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the proxy servlet's parameter handling mechanism. When an attacker submits a crafted URI through the endpoint parameter, the application fails to properly validate or restrict the destination of the outbound request. This allows malicious actors to specify arbitrary URLs including internal network addresses, localhost references, or file system paths. The vulnerability operates under CWE-918, which specifically addresses server-side request forgery issues where applications fail to properly validate user-provided URLs or URIs. The flaw essentially transforms the legitimate proxy functionality into an attack vector that can be exploited to perform reconnaissance activities such as port scanning internal services and attempting to read arbitrary files from the server's file system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure. Attackers can leverage this flaw to conduct comprehensive network reconnaissance by scanning internal ports and services that would typically be invisible to external network traffic. The ability to read arbitrary files from the server filesystem represents a severe privilege escalation opportunity, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive configuration files, database credentials, or application source code. This vulnerability can be exploited to gain insights into the internal network topology and identify additional attack surfaces. From an adversary perspective, this represents a significant foothold for lateral movement within the network, as demonstrated by ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol tunneling and T1046 for network service scanning.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9301 require immediate implementation of input validation and URI sanitization measures within the proxy servlet functionality. Organizations should implement strict validation of endpoint parameters to ensure they only accept well-formed, external URLs and reject internal network addresses or file system references. The recommended approach involves implementing a whitelist-based validation system that explicitly defines acceptable URI patterns and rejects all others. Additionally, network segmentation controls should be enforced to limit the impact of potential exploitation by restricting outbound network access from the Alfresco server. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and monitoring to detect suspicious proxy usage patterns. The most effective mitigation involves upgrading to Alfresco Community Edition 5.0.a or later versions where this vulnerability has been properly addressed through enhanced input validation and proper URI sanitization mechanisms. Security teams should also implement network-based controls such as firewalls or network access control lists to prevent the Alfresco server from making unauthorized outbound connections to internal network resources.