CVE-2015-5187 in Candlepin
Summary
by MITRE
Candlepin allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by obtaining Java exception statements as a result of excessive web traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5187 resides within the Candlepin entitlement management system, which is a core component of Red Hat Subscription Management. This system manages software subscriptions and entitlements for Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments. The flaw manifests when the system processes excessive web traffic, leading to the exposure of Java exception statements that contain sensitive information. This vulnerability represents a classic information disclosure issue that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain insights into the system's internal workings and potentially identify additional attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling within the Candlepin web application layer. When the system encounters conditions that trigger Java exceptions during high-volume traffic scenarios, the application fails to properly sanitize error messages before returning them to client requests. These exception statements often contain stack traces, internal system paths, database connection details, and other sensitive operational information that should remain confidential. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through normal web traffic patterns rather than requiring special exploitation techniques, making it accessible to attackers who simply need to generate sufficient load against the target system.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5187 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked Java exception data can provide attackers with detailed insights into the application architecture and underlying infrastructure. This information can be leveraged to craft more sophisticated attacks targeting specific components of the Candlepin system or related services. Attackers can use the exposed technical details to identify potential weaknesses in the system's security posture, understand the version of underlying technologies, and potentially discover additional vulnerabilities that might exist in the same codebase. The vulnerability also affects the system's availability since excessive traffic can trigger these error conditions, potentially leading to denial of service scenarios.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-209, which specifically addresses the exposure of exception information, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, focusing on exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities. The weakness demonstrates poor input validation and error handling practices that violate fundamental security principles. Organizations should implement comprehensive logging and monitoring solutions to detect unusual traffic patterns that might trigger these error conditions, while also ensuring that error messages are properly sanitized before being returned to clients. The recommended mitigations include implementing rate limiting mechanisms, deploying web application firewalls to filter excessive traffic, and configuring proper error handling that prevents sensitive information from being exposed in error responses. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the application's error handling mechanisms, ensuring that all exception information is appropriately managed and that system administrators are notified of such events without exposing confidential details to unauthorized parties.