CVE-2018-2911 in GlassFish Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle GlassFish Server component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Java Server Faces). The supported version that is affected is 3.1.2. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle GlassFish Server. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Oracle GlassFish Server accessible data as well as unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle GlassFish Server accessible data and unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Oracle GlassFish Server. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.3 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2911 resides within Oracle GlassFish Server's Java Server Faces subcomponent, specifically affecting version 3.1.2. This represents a critical security flaw that demonstrates the persistent challenges organizations face when deploying enterprise application servers with complex component architectures. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage standard network-based techniques without requiring privileged access or specialized tools, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such servers are exposed to external networks. The CVSS score of 8.3 reflects the severity of impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains, positioning this vulnerability in the high-risk category that demands immediate attention from security teams.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the Java Server Faces implementation, allowing attackers to manipulate server-side components through crafted HTTP requests. This flaw enables unauthenticated access to the GlassFish Server's administrative functions, providing attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary operations against the server's data and configuration. The requirement for human interaction suggests that while the initial exploitation may not be fully automated, it can be initiated through user actions such as clicking malicious links or visiting compromised web pages, which significantly broadens the attack surface. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft to include complete system compromise, as attackers can modify or delete critical server data while simultaneously creating conditions for partial denial of service attacks that can disrupt legitimate user access.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to enterprise security infrastructure, particularly in organizations that rely on GlassFish Server for mission-critical applications. The ability to perform unauthorized data modification and deletion creates risks for data integrity that can lead to significant business disruption and regulatory compliance violations. Organizations using this server version face potential exposure to complete data compromise, as the vulnerability allows access to all data accessible through the server, including sensitive configuration information and user data. The partial denial of service capability further compounds the risk by potentially disrupting business operations and creating conditions where legitimate users cannot access critical applications. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols) in its exploitation methodology.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit direct access to GlassFish Server instances, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious HTTP traffic. Additional protective measures should include disabling unnecessary administrative interfaces, implementing strict access controls, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all GlassFish Server deployments. Regular monitoring of network traffic for anomalous patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and demonstrates how even minor components within complex enterprise software can create significant security risks that require immediate remediation to prevent potential data breaches and service disruptions.