CVE-2015-0899 in Struts
Summary
by MITRE
The MultiPageValidator implementation in Apache Struts 1 1.1 through 1.3.10 allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via a modified page parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0899 represents a critical access control flaw within the Apache Struts 1 framework that affects versions 1.1 through 1.3.10. This issue resides in the MultiPageValidator implementation which is designed to handle multi-step forms and validate user input across multiple pages. The flaw fundamentally undermines the security mechanisms intended to protect application resources by allowing unauthorized access to protected pages through manipulation of the page parameter.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the page parameter within the MultiPageValidator component. When users navigate through multi-page forms, the framework typically uses a page parameter to track the current step and control access to subsequent pages. However, the implementation fails to properly verify that the requested page parameter corresponds to a legitimate navigation path or that the user has appropriate authorization to access the target page. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious requests that modify the page parameter to skip validation checks or access pages that should be restricted to authorized users only.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software implementations, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as it enables attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain access to protected application functionality. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or manipulate application state by accessing restricted pages that contain sensitive business logic or data processing components.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for organizations running affected Apache Struts 1 applications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass intended access controls and gain unauthorized access to multi-page forms that should only be accessible to authenticated users or those with specific privileges. This could lead to data leakage, unauthorized transactions, or the ability to manipulate application workflows by accessing intermediate pages in multi-step processes. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications that use multi-page forms for sensitive operations such as user registration, account management, or administrative functions.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Apache Struts 1.3.11 or later versions where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper validation of page parameters. Additionally, administrators should review their application configurations to ensure that access control mechanisms are properly implemented at multiple layers of the application architecture. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though the most effective solution remains the immediate patching of affected systems. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other instances where similar parameter manipulation vulnerabilities might exist within their Apache Struts applications or related frameworks.