CVE-2017-2594 in Hawtio
Summary
by MITRE
hawtio before versions 2.0-beta-1, 2.0-beta-2 2.0-m1, 2.0-m2, 2.0-m3, and 1.5 is vulnerable to a path traversal that leads to a NullPointerException with a full stacktrace. An attacker could use this flaw to gather undisclosed information from within hawtio's root.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2594 affects hawtio versions prior to 2.0-beta-1, 2.0-beta-2, 2.0-m1, 2.0-m2, 2.0-m3, and 1.5, representing a critical path traversal flaw that exposes sensitive system information through a NullPointerException with full stacktrace disclosure. This vulnerability resides within the web application framework's file handling mechanisms, specifically in how it processes user-supplied input when accessing resources within the hawtio root directory structure. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of file paths and insufficient sanitization of user-provided parameters that are directly used in file system operations, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate path traversal sequences to access unauthorized resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the application's failure to properly validate or sanitize input parameters that control file access operations. When hawtio processes requests containing specially crafted path traversal sequences, the application fails to properly restrict access to the root directory and its subdirectories, enabling unauthorized file system navigation. The resulting NullPointerException occurs when the application attempts to access non-existent or restricted resources, leading to full stacktrace generation that reveals internal application structure, file paths, and potentially sensitive system information. This behavior aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-470 Unstable Random Number Generation, as the application's path handling logic fails to properly validate input and the error handling mechanism inadvertently exposes system internals.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the full stacktrace exposure provides attackers with detailed insights into the application's internal architecture, including class names, method signatures, and file system structure. This information can be leveraged for further exploitation attempts, potentially leading to more severe vulnerabilities or aiding in the development of additional attack vectors. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where hawtio serves as a management interface for application servers or middleware, as it could allow attackers to discover sensitive configuration files, system properties, or other resources that should remain protected from unauthorized access. Attackers could use this information to craft more sophisticated attacks targeting the underlying application or system components, making this vulnerability a significant risk for production environments.
Organizations utilizing affected hawtio versions should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions, implementing proper input validation and sanitization, and restricting access to hawtio interfaces through network segmentation and authentication controls. The recommended approach involves deploying the latest stable releases that address the path traversal vulnerability, while also implementing proper access controls and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns. Security measures should include validating all user-supplied input against a strict whitelist of allowed characters and paths, implementing proper error handling that does not expose stacktraces to end users, and configuring web application firewalls to detect and block path traversal attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly in management interfaces that provide access to sensitive system information, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation.