CVE-2016-3690 in JBoss EAP
Summary
by MITRE
The PooledInvokerServlet in JBoss EAP 4.x and 5.x allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted serialized payload.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3690 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the JBoss Enterprise Application Platform versions 4.x and 5.x, specifically affecting the PooledInvokerServlet component. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of serialized objects within the application server's invocation mechanism. The flaw allows remote attackers to craft malicious serialized payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable servlet, trigger arbitrary code execution on the target system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application server level, potentially providing attackers with elevated privileges and complete system compromise capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the way JBoss EAP handles serialized object deserialization within its PooledInvokerServlet. When the servlet receives a serialized payload through HTTP requests, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the incoming data before attempting to deserialize it. This deserialization process occurs without adequate security controls, allowing attackers to inject malicious serialized objects that contain executable code. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-502, which describes "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" as a weakness that leads to remote code execution when untrusted data is deserialized without proper validation. The attack vector requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with network access to the vulnerable JBoss server.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3690 extends far beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over affected systems. Successful exploitation can result in data theft, system compromise, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within network environments. Organizations running vulnerable JBoss EAP versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive business applications and data repositories. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access through backdoor installations or to use the compromised server as a launch point for attacking other systems within the network perimeter. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1105 for "Remote File Copy" when attackers leverage the executed code to download additional malicious payloads or establish persistence mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3690 require immediate action from affected organizations, including applying official patches from Red Hat and JBoss as soon as possible. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable JBoss servers, disable unnecessary HTTP endpoints, and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious serialized object traffic. Additional protective measures include configuring application firewalls to filter deserialization requests, implementing strict input validation for all HTTP endpoints, and conducting regular security assessments of application server configurations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices around deserialization operations and demonstrates the critical need for organizations to maintain up-to-date security patches across their entire application infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.