CVE-2016-7034 in JBoss BPM Suite
Summary
by MITRE
The dashbuilder in Red Hat JBoss BPM Suite 6.3.2 does not properly handle CSRF tokens generated during an active session and includes them in query strings, which makes easier for remote attackers to (1) bypass CSRF protection mechanisms or (2) conduct cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks by obtaining an old token.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7034 affects the dashbuilder component within Red Hat JBoss BPM Suite 6.3.2, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the application's cross-site request forgery protection mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of CSRF tokens during active user sessions, where the system fails to maintain proper token validation and instead incorporates these tokens into query strings. The flaw creates a significant security risk by allowing unauthorized actors to exploit the predictable nature of token inclusion in URLs, thereby compromising the integrity of the CSRF protection framework that is fundamental to web application security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the dashbuilder component's flawed session management approach, where CSRF tokens are not properly invalidated or rotated upon session changes. When tokens are embedded within query strings rather than being handled through secure session mechanisms, attackers can leverage these exposed tokens to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. This behavior directly violates established security principles for CSRF protection and creates a pathway for attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized operations. The vulnerability specifically enables attackers to obtain valid CSRF tokens from previous sessions and reuse them in malicious requests, effectively nullifying the protection intended by the CSRF framework.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations utilizing Red Hat JBoss BPM Suite 6.3.2, as it allows remote attackers to conduct successful CSRF attacks without requiring additional authentication credentials. The impact extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially enable complete system compromise, as attackers could leverage this weakness to perform administrative actions, modify critical business processes, or access sensitive operational data. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous in environments where security monitoring may not detect anomalous token usage patterns. This flaw particularly affects business process management systems where dashbuilder components are used for monitoring and reporting, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate business intelligence data or disrupt workflow processes.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Red Hat JBoss BPM Suite, implementing proper token management practices that prevent token inclusion in URLs, and configuring web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious query string patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and represents a violation of ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing. Security teams must also implement comprehensive monitoring for token usage patterns and establish proper session management policies that ensure CSRF tokens are handled through secure mechanisms rather than being exposed in query parameters. The remediation process should include thorough security assessments of all web applications within the JBoss ecosystem to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that CSRF protection mechanisms are properly implemented across all components.