CVE-2016-6330 in JBoss Operations Network
Summary
by MITRE
The server in Red Hat JBoss Operations Network (JON), when SSL authentication is not configured for JON server / agent communication, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTTP request, related to message deserialization. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2016-3737.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6330 affects Red Hat JBoss Operations Network (JON) server implementations where SSL authentication is not properly configured for communication between the server and agents. This represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through carefully crafted HTTP requests. The vulnerability specifically targets the message deserialization process within the JON server component, exploiting a weakness that was initially addressed in CVE-2016-3737 but not completely resolved. The incomplete remediation leaves the system exposed to exploitation scenarios where attackers can manipulate serialized data objects to achieve unauthorized code execution on the target server.
The technical flaw resides in the server's handling of serialized message objects during HTTP communication between the JON server and its agent components. When SSL authentication is disabled, the system lacks proper validation mechanisms for incoming serialized data, allowing attackers to inject malicious serialized objects that get processed by the vulnerable deserialization routine. This deserialization vulnerability falls under the category of insecure deserialization as defined by CWE-502, where the application accepts untrusted data that is then deserialized without proper validation or sanitization. The attack vector specifically exploits the lack of authentication and encryption in the communication channel, making it possible for remote adversaries to craft HTTP requests containing malicious serialized payloads that execute arbitrary commands when processed by the vulnerable server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations using Red Hat JBoss Operations Network without proper SSL configuration. Attackers can gain full control over the JON server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the core communication mechanisms of the monitoring platform, which could result in disruption of critical infrastructure monitoring capabilities while simultaneously providing attackers with a persistent foothold in the environment. Organizations relying on JON for operational monitoring may experience complete loss of visibility into their systems while attackers maintain covert access through the compromised server.
The remediation approach for CVE-2016-6330 requires immediate implementation of proper SSL/TLS configuration for all JON server-agent communications, ensuring that authentication and encryption are properly enforced. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization for all serialized data received through HTTP endpoints, following the principle of least privilege for deserialization operations. The fix involves complete reimplementation of the deserialization process with proper security controls including object type validation, size limitations, and secure deserialization libraries. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that all communication channels are properly secured. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of complete remediation of security issues and the potential for incomplete fixes to create new attack surfaces as outlined in various ATT&CK framework techniques related to command and control communications and privilege escalation through deserialization attacks.