CVE-2016-10036 in Artifactory
Summary
by MITRE
Unrestricted file upload vulnerability in ui/artifact/upload in JFrog Artifactory before 4.16 allows remote attackers to (1) deploy an arbitrary servlet application and execute arbitrary code by uploading a war file or (2) possibly write to arbitrary files and cause a denial of service by uploading an HTML file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10036 represents a critical unrestricted file upload flaw within JFrog Artifactory's user interface component, specifically affecting versions prior to 4.16. This vulnerability exists in the artifact upload functionality located at ui/artifact/upload, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this artifact repository management system. The flaw stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of file uploads, allowing malicious actors to bypass security controls and potentially execute arbitrary code within the target environment. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-434, which specifically addresses the improper restriction of uploads of executable files, making it a direct descendant of well-known software security weaknesses that have plagued enterprise systems for decades.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to perform two distinct but equally dangerous operations against affected systems. The primary threat involves uploading malicious war files, which are java archive files designed to deploy servlet applications within java application servers. When such files are uploaded to the vulnerable Artifactory instance, they can be executed directly, allowing attackers to gain remote code execution capabilities within the system. This represents a severe privilege escalation vector that could lead to complete system compromise. Additionally, attackers can upload html files that may result in arbitrary file writing operations and potential denial of service conditions, further expanding the attack surface and impact scope. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates at the user interface level, meaning that attackers do not require deep system access or specific authentication credentials to exploit this weakness.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of artifact repository systems that rely on trusted upload mechanisms. Organizations using affected versions of Artifactory face potential complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and service disruption. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in unauthorized access to sensitive corporate artifacts, including source code, binaries, and configuration files that may contain intellectual property or security-sensitive information. Furthermore, the ability to execute arbitrary code through war file uploads provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges, and conduct lateral movement within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and script execution and T1078 for valid accounts, as the successful exploitation typically requires minimal credentials to access the upload interface and can lead to broader system compromise.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to JFrog Artifactory version 4.16 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing strict file type validation and sanitization at the upload interface, configuring proper access controls and authentication mechanisms, and establishing network segmentation to limit exposure of the artifact repository to untrusted networks. Security administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious upload patterns, as well as conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and secure file handling practices in enterprise software, aligning with industry best practices outlined in standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations should also review their artifact repository configurations to ensure that upload restrictions are properly enforced and that system administrators maintain visibility into all file upload activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.