CVE-2018-10795 in Liferay
Summary
by MITRE
Liferay 6.2.x and before has an FCKeditor configuration that allows an attacker to upload or transfer files of dangerous types that can be automatically processed within the product's environment via a browser/liferay/browser.html?Type= or html/js/editor/fckeditor/editor/filemanager/browser/liferay/browser.html URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
This vulnerability exists in Liferay versions 6.2.x and earlier, specifically within the FCKeditor component that is integrated into the platform's web content management capabilities. The flaw stems from insufficient file type validation and access control mechanisms within the file upload functionality, which allows malicious actors to bypass security restrictions and upload potentially harmful file types through the browser interface. The vulnerable URI paths include both the main browser.html endpoint and the specific file manager browser.html location, creating multiple attack vectors for exploitation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables automatic processing of uploaded files within the application's execution environment, meaning that malicious files could be executed or interpreted by the server without proper sandboxing or validation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the FCKeditor's file management system which lacks proper input sanitization and file extension filtering. Attackers can manipulate the Type parameter in the URI to specify file types that should be allowed for upload, effectively circumventing the intended security boundaries. This flaw represents a classic case of insufficient access control and inadequate file validation, which aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type). The vulnerability can be leveraged to upload web shells, malicious scripts, or other executable content that can be processed by the Liferay application server, creating a persistent threat vector for attackers.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability provides attackers with a means to achieve remote code execution within the Liferay environment, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The automatic processing capability means that uploaded malicious files do not require additional exploitation steps to become active within the application context. This vulnerability can be exploited to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt service availability. The attack surface is further expanded because the vulnerable paths are accessible through standard browser interfaces, making exploitation relatively straightforward for attackers with basic knowledge of web application vulnerabilities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) techniques, as it allows for exploitation of publicly accessible web interfaces without requiring prior authentication.
The recommended mitigations include immediate patching of Liferay to versions that address this FCKeditor vulnerability, implementing strict file type validation and content filtering at multiple layers of the application architecture, and configuring proper access controls to restrict file upload capabilities to authorized users only. Organizations should also implement network-level restrictions to limit access to the vulnerable endpoints, conduct regular security assessments of third-party components, and establish monitoring procedures to detect suspicious file upload activities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, sanitization, and secure coding practices in custom applications that integrate with Liferay can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that legitimate file upload functionality remains operational while eliminating the security risks associated with automatic processing of potentially malicious files.