CVE-2016-5005 in Archiva
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Apache Archiva 1.3.9 and earlier allows remote authenticated administrators to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the connector.sourceRepoId parameter to admin/addProxyConnector_commit.action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5005 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Apache Archiva version 1.3.9 and earlier releases. This vulnerability specifically affects authenticated administrator users who possess the necessary privileges to manage proxy connectors within the Archiva repository management system. The flaw exists in the administrative interface where the application fails to properly sanitize user input parameters, creating an avenue for malicious code injection. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets a privileged administrative function that allows for the configuration of proxy connectors, which are essential components for managing remote repository access within the Archiva environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the connector.sourceRepoId parameter within the admin/addProxyConnector_commit.action endpoint. When an authenticated administrator navigates to the proxy connector configuration page and submits data containing malicious script code, the application processes this input without adequate validation or sanitization. This failure to implement proper input sanitization means that any script code embedded within the sourceRepoId parameter gets executed in the context of the victim administrator's browser session. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a common weakness in web applications that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities through the compromised administrator session. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect administrators to malicious sites, or even execute commands on behalf of the privileged user. The attack requires only authentication to the Archiva system, which significantly lowers the barrier to exploitation compared to vulnerabilities requiring additional reconnaissance or privilege escalation. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access might be compromised through other means, such as credential theft or weak authentication controls.
The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to secure web application development. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and privilege escalation through web application attacks. Organizations using Apache Archiva should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches, implementing proper input validation at all entry points, and conducting comprehensive security reviews of administrative interfaces. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, restricting administrative access to trusted networks, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect critical administrative functions within enterprise repository management systems.