CVE-2018-25007 in Vaadin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/24/2021
Missing check in UIDL request handler in com.vaadin:flow-server versions 1.0.0 through 1.0.5 (Vaadin 10.0.0 through 10.0.7, and 11.0.0 through 11.0.2) allows attacker to update element property values via crafted synchronization message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-25007 represents a critical security flaw in the Vaadin framework's UIDL request handling mechanism within the flow-server component. This issue affects versions 1.0.0 through 1.0.5 of the com.vaadin:flow-server library, which corresponds to Vaadin 10.0.0 through 10.0.7 and 11.0.0 through 11.0.2. The flaw stems from an insufficient validation check in the UIDL request handler that processes synchronization messages between the client and server components of Vaadin applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper input validation and sanitization within the UIDL processing pipeline. When a malicious actor crafts a specially designed synchronization message, the system fails to validate the integrity of element property values being updated. This missing validation allows unauthorized modification of element properties through what should be controlled and secure communication channels. The vulnerability essentially permits an attacker to manipulate the internal state of Vaadin components by injecting crafted UIDL messages that bypass normal access controls and validation mechanisms.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for applications built on the affected Vaadin versions. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to modify UI element properties, manipulate application behavior, or even gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the synchronization layer where client and server components communicate, making it difficult to detect and trace. This flaw could enable attackers to perform unauthorized modifications to application state, potentially leading to data corruption, privilege escalation, or complete application compromise depending on the specific implementation and access controls in place.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation," and represents a classic case of insufficient validation of incoming data within the application's communication layer. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion through manipulation of application state. Organizations using affected Vaadin versions should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of the flow-server library, implementing additional input validation layers, and monitoring for suspicious UIDL traffic patterns. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to versions that contain proper validation checks in the UIDL request handler, ensuring that all element property updates are properly authenticated and authorized before processing. Additionally, network-level monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect anomalous synchronization messages that may indicate exploitation attempts.