CVE-2017-7561 in JBoss EAP
Summary
by MITRE
Red Hat JBoss EAP version 3.0.7 through before 4.0.0.Beta1 is vulnerable to a server-side cache poisoning or CORS requests in the JAX-RS component resulting in a moderate impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7561 affects Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform versions 3.0.7 through before 4.0.0.Beta1, specifically within the JAX-RS component. This issue represents a server-side cache poisoning vulnerability that can be exploited through Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) requests, creating a moderate security impact. The affected component resides within the web application framework that handles RESTful web services, making it particularly concerning for applications that rely heavily on cross-origin requests.
The technical flaw manifests in how the JAX-RS implementation processes CORS preflight requests and caches responses. When a malicious actor sends a specially crafted CORS request that includes cacheable headers, the server incorrectly stores this information in its cache without proper validation of the origin or request parameters. This cache poisoning allows an attacker to inject malicious content or manipulate cached responses that would normally be restricted to specific origins, effectively bypassing the CORS security mechanism that is designed to prevent unauthorized cross-origin access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple cache manipulation as it creates a potential pathway for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker could leverage the poisoned cache to redirect legitimate requests to malicious endpoints or inject content that appears to originate from trusted sources. This vulnerability particularly affects applications that use JAX-RS for building REST APIs and web services, where CORS policies are critical for maintaining security boundaries between different origins. The moderate impact rating reflects the fact that exploitation requires specific conditions and the attacker needs to control or influence the caching behavior of the server.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in relation to CWE-346, which addresses "Origin Validation Error" in web applications, and the corresponding ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers "Exploit Public-Facing Application" through web application vulnerabilities. The attack vector typically involves sending CORS requests that contain cacheable headers, allowing an attacker to manipulate the server's caching layer and potentially gain unauthorized access to resources that should be restricted. Organizations running affected JBoss EAP versions should prioritize patching to address this vulnerability and ensure that CORS configurations are properly validated to prevent unauthorized cache manipulation.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to versions 4.0.0.Beta1 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Additionally, administrators should implement proper CORS header validation and consider disabling caching for sensitive CORS preflight responses. Network-level controls such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection by monitoring and filtering suspicious CORS requests. Regular security assessments of web application frameworks should include testing for similar cache poisoning vulnerabilities, particularly in components that handle cross-origin requests and maintain server-side caches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and the need for comprehensive security testing of web services that utilize caching mechanisms.