CVE-2016-0713 in Cloud Foundry
Summary
by MITRE
Gorouter in Cloud Foundry cf-release v141 through v228 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via vectors related to modified requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0713 affects the Gorouter component within Cloud Foundry's cf-release framework, specifically impacting versions ranging from v141 through v228. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of network communications within Cloud Foundry deployments. The Gorouter serves as a core routing component that handles incoming HTTP requests and forwards them to appropriate application instances, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise the platform's security posture. The vulnerability manifests through modified requests that exploit weaknesses in the routing layer's request processing mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the Gorouter's request handling pipeline. Attackers can manipulate request headers or parameters to inject malicious content that gets processed and subsequently rendered in user-facing interfaces. This allows for cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts execute within the context of legitimate user sessions. The flaw specifically relates to how the router processes and forwards modified requests without adequate sanitization of potentially malicious input, creating an attack surface that enables unauthorized code execution in the browser context of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS exploitation, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within Cloud Foundry environments. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal user session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect users to malicious sites. Given that Cloud Foundry platforms often host multiple applications and user data, this vulnerability could potentially affect numerous applications within a single deployment. The man-in-the-middle attack vector suggests that the vulnerability may be exploitable in network traffic interception scenarios, making it particularly dangerous in environments where traffic is not properly encrypted or where network monitoring is present.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected Cloud Foundry releases to version 229 or later, where the security flaw has been addressed through enhanced input validation and request sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive network monitoring to detect anomalous request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves strengthening the input validation routines within the Gorouter component to properly sanitize all request parameters and headers before processing. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to add additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering through malicious content injection, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls across multiple attack vectors.