CVE-2018-8006 in ActiveMQ
Summary
by MITRE
An instance of a cross-site scripting vulnerability was identified to be present in the web based administration console on the queue.jsp page of Apache ActiveMQ versions 5.0.0 to 5.15.5. The root cause of this issue is improper data filtering of the QueueFilter parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-8006 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Apache ActiveMQ's web administration console, specifically affecting versions ranging from 5.0.0 through 5.15.5. This issue resides within the queue.jsp page component of the console interface, making it accessible to authenticated users who possess administrative privileges. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data, creating an exploitable condition within the application's web interface.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The QueueFilter parameter serves as the primary attack vector, where malicious input containing script code can be injected into the web page context. When the application processes this parameter without adequate sanitization, it allows arbitrary JavaScript code to be executed within the browser context of authenticated users who access the affected page. This improper data filtering mechanism creates a persistent vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers who have gained administrative access to the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-8006 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive administrative credentials, and potentially escalate privileges within the messaging infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically targets the web administration console, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on ActiveMQ for mission-critical messaging operations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts that may redirect users to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or even execute commands on the underlying system if additional vulnerabilities exist. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this affects the entire range of ActiveMQ versions mentioned, indicating a long-standing issue that has persisted across multiple releases.
Organizations utilizing Apache ActiveMQ within their infrastructure should prioritize immediate remediation through patching to version 5.15.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied parameters within the web console. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious parameter values in the QueueFilter field. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their ActiveMQ deployments to identify any other potential entry points that may be vulnerable to similar cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and proper input validation in web-based administrative interfaces, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns and the security principles established by the CWE database.