CVE-2017-7685 in OpenMeetings
Summary
by MITRE
Apache OpenMeetings 1.0.0 responds to the following insecure HTTP methods: PUT, DELETE, HEAD, and PATCH.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7685 affects Apache OpenMeetings version 1.0.0 and represents a significant security flaw related to the improper handling of HTTP methods within the web application framework. This issue stems from the application's failure to adequately restrict or validate certain HTTP methods that are typically considered unsafe or potentially malicious. The affected methods include PUT, DELETE, HEAD, and PATCH, which when improperly implemented can create pathways for unauthorized actions within the application's operational scope.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's lack of proper access controls and input validation for these specific HTTP methods. The PUT method allows for resource creation or modification, DELETE enables resource removal, HEAD provides metadata retrieval without content transfer, and PATCH facilitates partial updates to resources. When these methods are not properly secured, they can be exploited by attackers to perform unauthorized operations on the application's backend resources. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and CWE-22, which covers path traversal issues that can occur when HTTP methods are not appropriately restricted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it creates multiple attack vectors for potential exploitation. An attacker could leverage the insecure PUT method to upload malicious files or modify existing resources, use DELETE to remove critical data or system components, employ HEAD requests to gather information about the application's structure and resources, or utilize PATCH operations to make unauthorized modifications to user accounts or system configurations. This vulnerability essentially undermines the application's integrity and confidentiality controls, potentially allowing for complete system compromise or data destruction.
Organizations utilizing Apache OpenMeetings 1.0.0 should immediately implement mitigations including disabling or restricting the use of insecure HTTP methods through web server configuration, implementing proper authentication and authorization checks for all HTTP methods, and applying the latest security patches from the Apache OpenMeetings project. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1210, which involves exploitation of remote services through insecure configurations, and T1078, which covers valid accounts usage. Additionally, implementing proper web application firewalls and conducting regular security assessments will help prevent exploitation of these insecure HTTP methods and ensure the overall security posture of the application remains intact.