CVE-2018-1270 in Spring Framework
Summary
by MITRE
Spring Framework, versions 5.0 prior to 5.0.5 and versions 4.3 prior to 4.3.15 and older unsupported versions, allow applications to expose STOMP over WebSocket endpoints with a simple, in-memory STOMP broker through the spring-messaging module. A malicious user (or attacker) can craft a message to the broker that can lead to a remote code execution attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1270 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Spring Framework that affects multiple versions including 4.3.x prior to 4.3.15 and 5.0.x prior to 5.0.5. This vulnerability specifically impacts applications that utilize the spring-messaging module to expose STOMP over WebSocket endpoints with a simple in-memory STOMP broker. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the message handling mechanisms of the framework, creating an attack surface where maliciously crafted messages can be processed by the broker without proper security checks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems simply by sending specially crafted messages to the exposed WebSocket endpoints.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of STOMP (Simple Text Oriented Messaging Protocol) messages that are processed by the in-memory broker component. When applications expose STOMP endpoints using Spring Framework's messaging capabilities, the framework creates a broker instance that handles message routing and processing. Attackers can craft malicious STOMP frames that contain serialized objects or code that gets deserialized by the broker, leading to arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-502 which specifically addresses "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" and demonstrates how insecure deserialization can lead to remote code execution in messaging systems. The attack vector leverages the Spring Framework's message handling architecture where user-supplied data flows directly into the broker without adequate sanitization or validation, creating a path for malicious payloads to be executed within the application context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to gain complete control over affected systems without requiring authentication or privileged access. Once exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary commands, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects organizations running Spring Framework applications that expose WebSocket endpoints with STOMP messaging, which is common in real-time web applications, chat systems, and other interactive web services. The attack can be executed from any location with network access to the vulnerable endpoint, making it particularly dangerous for publicly exposed applications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1059.001 which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" as attackers can leverage the execution capabilities to perform various malicious activities through the compromised system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Spring Framework versions 4.3.15 or 5.0.5 and later, which contain the necessary patches to address the deserialization issues in the messaging module. Additionally, administrators should review their application configurations to ensure that STOMP endpoints are properly secured and that unnecessary WebSocket messaging capabilities are disabled. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable endpoints to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in WebSocket traffic that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied data, particularly in messaging systems where deserialization occurs. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Spring Framework applications to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other components of their messaging infrastructure. Regular security updates and vulnerability management processes should be implemented to ensure timely patching of similar issues that may arise in the future.