CVE-2017-1000030 in GlassFish Server Open Source Edition
Summary
by MITRE
Oracle, GlassFish Server Open Source Edition 3.0.1 (build 22) is vulnerable to Java Key Store Password Disclosure vulnerability, that makes it possible to provide an unauthenticated attacker plain text password of administrative user and grant access to the web-based administration interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000030 represents a critical security flaw in Oracle GlassFish Server Open Source Edition 3.0.1 build 22 that exposes administrative credentials through improper handling of Java Key Store password disclosure mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the category of credential exposure and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the administrative interface of the application server. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to obtain plaintext passwords for administrative users, thereby compromising the entire administrative access control mechanism of the GlassFish server instance. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and protection of sensitive credential information within the server's authentication infrastructure, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to critical administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of Java Key Store files and their associated password mechanisms within the GlassFish server configuration. When the server processes authentication requests or accesses secured resources, it inadvertently exposes or reveals the plaintext passwords associated with administrative accounts through specific API calls or configuration file parsing routines. This flaw is particularly dangerous because it bypasses normal authentication procedures and allows attackers to directly obtain administrative credentials without requiring prior knowledge of valid login information. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in credential storage and management, aligning with CWE-522 which addresses insufficiently protected credentials and CWE-255 which covers improper handling of authentication credentials. The attack vector involves exploiting the server's configuration parsing or key store access mechanisms to extract administrative passwords from memory or configuration files, enabling unauthorized access to the web-based administration interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-1000030 is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing GlassFish Server 3.0.1, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over affected systems. Once an attacker obtains the plaintext administrative password, they can perform any administrative function including but not limited to creating new user accounts, modifying existing configurations, deploying malicious applications, accessing sensitive data, and potentially escalating privileges to system-level access. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire application server environment, as administrative access typically grants broad permissions across the system. This exposure can lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within network environments where GlassFish servers are deployed. The attack can be executed remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible servers or those exposed to untrusted networks. The vulnerability also impacts the availability of services as attackers can disable or modify critical server functions through administrative access.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability in their GlassFish Server deployments. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to a patched version of Oracle GlassFish Server that resolves the Java Key Store password disclosure issue, as Oracle has released security updates specifically addressing this flaw. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of GlassFish servers to untrusted networks, while ensuring that administrative interfaces are not directly accessible from external networks. Additional protective measures include implementing strong authentication mechanisms, regular credential rotation, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The mitigation approach should align with defensive techniques outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and credential access domains, specifically addressing techniques such as credential dumping and exploitation of weak credentials. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems running the vulnerable GlassFish version and ensure that all administrative interfaces are properly secured through network controls and access restrictions. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be performed to validate the effectiveness of implemented mitigations and identify potential additional vulnerabilities in the application server environment.