CVE-2018-1260 in Spring Security OAuth
Summary
by MITRE
Spring Security OAuth, versions 2.3 prior to 2.3.3, 2.2 prior to 2.2.2, 2.1 prior to 2.1.2, 2.0 prior to 2.0.15 and older unsupported versions contains a remote code execution vulnerability. A malicious user or attacker can craft an authorization request to the authorization endpoint that can lead to remote code execution when the resource owner is forwarded to the approval endpoint.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1260 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Spring Security OAuth implementations across multiple version ranges including 2.3.x before 2.3.3, 2.2.x before 2.2.2, 2.1.x before 2.1.2, and 2.0.x before 2.0.15. This vulnerability resides in the authorization endpoint handling mechanism where crafted authorization requests can trigger unintended code execution on the target system. The flaw specifically manifests when resource owners are redirected to the approval endpoint, creating an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the OAuth authorization flow, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads through carefully constructed authorization parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the authorization request parameters that are processed by the Spring Security OAuth framework. When an attacker crafts a malicious authorization request containing specially formatted parameters, the framework fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before processing them in the approval endpoint context. This processing chain creates a path where attacker-controlled data can be executed as code within the application context. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and demonstrates how inadequate input validation can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack vector operates at the application layer, requiring no privileged access or specialized hardware, making it particularly dangerous for systems that rely on OAuth for authentication and authorization.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1260 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it can enable complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Organizations utilizing affected Spring Security OAuth versions face significant risk of data breaches, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects systems that depend on OAuth authorization flows, particularly those implementing the authorization code grant type where users are redirected to approval endpoints. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands on the affected server, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where OAuth is commonly used for single sign-on and identity federation services, as compromise of these systems can affect multiple applications and services within the organization's ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1260 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases within the supported Spring Security OAuth framework. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to versions 2.3.3, 2.2.2, 2.1.2, or 2.0.15 respectively, as these releases contain the necessary fixes for the code execution vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures at the application level can provide defense-in-depth protection while awaiting upgrades. Network-level controls such as firewalls and web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and restrict potentially malicious authorization requests. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059, "Command and Scripting Interpreter," as the exploitation results in command execution capabilities. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual authorization request patterns and parameter combinations that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected Spring Security OAuth versions and implement comprehensive patch management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in the future.