CVE-2016-0712 in JetSpeed
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Apache Jetspeed before 2.3.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to portal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2018
The CVE-2016-0712 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Apache Jetspeed versions prior to 2.3.1, specifically affecting the portal component's handling of PATH_INFO parameters. This vulnerability resides within the web application's input validation mechanisms and presents a significant security risk to organizations utilizing the Apache Jetspeed portal framework. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising user data and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of the PATH_INFO parameter within the portal's request processing pipeline. When the application receives a request containing malicious input in the PATH_INFO component, it fails to properly validate or escape the data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This inadequate input handling creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML fragments that execute in the victim's browser when the affected page is rendered. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the portal processes requests with crafted PATH_INFO values that contain script payloads designed to exploit the XSS vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user sessions, redirect victims to malicious sites, or manipulate portal functionality to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web-based portal deployments. Organizations using affected versions of Apache Jetspeed face potential compromise of user authentication tokens and sensitive business data processed through the portal interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0712 primarily focus on upgrading to Apache Jetspeed version 2.3.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers of their application architecture, including the web server level and application code. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script injection attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security measures should also include regular security assessments, web application firewalls, and monitoring for suspicious PATH_INFO parameter usage. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages, highlighting the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in preventing such attacks.
The remediation process requires careful attention to backward compatibility considerations when upgrading the portal framework, as well as thorough testing of all portal functionalities to ensure that the security patches do not introduce regressions in existing features. Organizations should also conduct security awareness training for developers to prevent similar input validation issues in custom portal extensions and modifications. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing should be implemented to identify and address similar weaknesses in the broader application ecosystem, particularly in web applications that process user input through URL parameters or similar vectors.