CVE-2017-12634 in Camel
Summary
by MITRE
The camel-castor component in Apache Camel 2.x before 2.19.4 and 2.20.x before 2.20.1 is vulnerable to Java object de-serialisation vulnerability. De-serializing untrusted data can lead to security flaws.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12634 affects the camel-castor component within Apache Camel framework versions prior to 2.19.4 and 2.20.1, representing a critical security flaw in the Java serialization mechanism. This issue stems from the component's improper handling of untrusted data during the deserialization process, creating an avenue for malicious actors to exploit the system. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes serialized data from untrusted sources without adequate validation or sanitization measures.
The technical flaw resides in the Java deserialization implementation within the camel-castor module, which fails to properly validate incoming serialized objects before processing them. This weakness aligns with CWE-502, which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data as a security vulnerability. When an attacker can manipulate serialized data, they can potentially execute arbitrary code on the target system, as the deserialization process inherently trusts the data structure and content without sufficient verification. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for remote code execution through carefully crafted serialized objects that can trigger malicious behavior during the deserialization phase.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or system instability, as it provides attackers with potential full system compromise capabilities. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems, potentially leading to data theft, system takeover, or further network infiltration. The vulnerability affects organizations using Apache Camel in their integration solutions, particularly those processing external data feeds or communicating with untrusted parties through serialized object formats. This risk is exacerbated by the widespread adoption of Apache Camel in enterprise integration patterns, where the component often handles sensitive business data and communicates across trust boundaries.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Apache Camel versions 2.19.4 or 2.20.1 and later, which contain fixes for the deserialization vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation for all serialized data, employing secure deserialization practices, and configuring network segmentation to limit exposure. The remediation process should also involve reviewing application code for any custom deserialization logic that might be vulnerable, as the fix may not address all potential attack vectors within the broader application architecture. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious deserialization patterns, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection through deserialization attacks.