CVE-2016-0957 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Dispatcher before 4.1.5 in Adobe Experience Manager 5.6.1, 6.0.0, and 6.1.0 does not properly implement a URL filter, which allows remote attackers to bypass dispatcher rules via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2018
Adobe Experience Manager dispatcher vulnerability CVE-2016-0957 represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of web applications relying on this content management system. The vulnerability exists within the dispatcher component versions prior to 4.1.5, affecting Adobe Experience Manager 5.6.1, 6.0.0, and 6.1.0 installations. This weakness stems from insufficient URL filtering mechanisms that fail to properly validate and sanitize incoming requests before processing them through the dispatcher architecture.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the dispatcher's inability to effectively enforce access control policies when processing HTTP requests. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specially crafted requests that bypass the intended URL filtering rules, effectively allowing unauthorized access to protected resources. The unspecified vectors referenced in the description suggest that multiple attack pathways exist, potentially including parameter manipulation, path traversal techniques, or header injection methods that circumvent the dispatcher's security controls. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically targeting improper access control mechanisms within web application components.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0957 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to bypass content protection measures and potentially gain access to sensitive administrative interfaces, unpublished content, or backend systems. Organizations using affected Adobe Experience Manager versions face significant risk of data exposure, content tampering, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. From an attacker's perspective, this weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it exploits weaknesses in web application security controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Adobe Experience Manager installations to version 4.1.5 or later, which includes the necessary URL filtering improvements. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls, enhanced logging and monitoring of dispatcher activities, and regular security assessments of their content management infrastructure. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web application security architectures, particularly in enterprise content management systems where dispatcher components serve as critical security boundaries.