CVE-2015-5262 in Commons Components HttpClient
Summary
by MITRE
http/conn/ssl/SSLConnectionSocketFactory.java in Apache HttpComponents HttpClient before 4.3.6 ignores the http.socket.timeout configuration setting during an SSL handshake, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (HTTPS call hang) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5262 affects Apache HttpComponents HttpClient versions prior to 4.3.6 and represents a critical security flaw in the SSL/TLS connection handling mechanism. This issue specifically impacts the SSLConnectionSocketFactory component which is responsible for establishing secure connections using the http.socket.timeout configuration parameter. The flaw creates a scenario where the timeout configuration is completely disregarded during the SSL handshake process, leading to potential denial of service conditions that can cause applications to hang indefinitely during HTTPS communication attempts.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of socket timeout parameters within the SSL connection establishment flow. When an SSL handshake occurs, the system should respect the configured socket timeout value to prevent indefinite waiting periods. However, in affected versions, the SSLConnectionSocketFactory.java implementation fails to apply the http.socket.timeout setting during the handshake phase, allowing malicious actors to exploit this behavior by initiating SSL connections that never complete. This creates a condition where the application thread becomes blocked indefinitely, consuming system resources and rendering the service unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level during secure socket establishment, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect any application relying on the affected HttpClient library for HTTPS communications.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5262 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader system reliability and availability concerns. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform denial of service attacks against applications that utilize the affected HttpClient library, causing connections to hang and potentially leading to resource exhaustion. This behavior can be particularly devastating in high-traffic environments where multiple hanging connections can quickly overwhelm system resources and cause cascading failures. The vulnerability affects both client and server-side applications that depend on the HttpClient library for secure communications, making it a widespread concern across various software ecosystems that rely on Apache HttpComponents for network operations. The indefinite hanging behavior can also mask underlying network issues or configuration problems, complicating troubleshooting efforts and potentially leading to extended downtime periods.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of all systems utilizing Apache HttpComponents HttpClient versions prior to 4.3.6, with the recommended remediation being the upgrade to version 4.3.6 or later. Security teams should also implement network-level monitoring to detect unusual connection patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, particularly looking for prolonged SSL handshake operations or unexpected connection timeouts. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing connection pooling with appropriate timeout configurations at the application level as a defensive measure, though this does not address the core issue within the library itself. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-691, which covers insufficient control flow management, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure proper handling of service disruption events that may result from this vulnerability, including establishing clear communication protocols for affected users and system administrators.