CVE-2018-8014 in MySQL Enterprise Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
The defaults settings for the CORS filter provided in Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.8, 8.5.0 to 8.5.31, 8.0.0.RC1 to 8.0.52, 7.0.41 to 7.0.88 are insecure and enable 'supportsCredentials' for all origins. It is expected that users of the CORS filter will have configured it appropriately for their environment rather than using it in the default configuration. Therefore, it is expected that most users will not be impacted by this issue.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-8014 affects Apache Tomcat versions ranging from 9.0.0.M1 through 9.0.8, 8.5.0 through 8.5.31, 8.0.0.RC1 through 8.0.52, and 7.0.41 through 7.0.88. This issue resides within the Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) filter implementation that is bundled with these Tomcat releases. The flaw manifests in the default configuration settings where the CORS filter is configured to allow credential support across all origins, creating a significant security risk that violates fundamental web security principles. This vulnerability represents a classic misconfiguration that could enable unauthorized cross-origin requests with credentials, potentially allowing malicious actors to bypass security restrictions that should prevent such access patterns.
The technical flaw stems from the insecure default configuration of the CORS filter component within Apache Tomcat's web application framework. When deployed with default settings, the filter permits the 'supportsCredentials' parameter to be enabled for all origins without proper validation or restriction. This configuration allows any domain to make authenticated requests to the Tomcat server, effectively undermining the CORS security model that is designed to prevent unauthorized cross-origin access. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-693, which describes protection mechanism failures, specifically the improper implementation of security controls. The flaw creates a scenario where legitimate security controls meant to restrict cross-origin access are bypassed due to overly permissive defaults, making it particularly dangerous for environments where default configurations are not reviewed or modified.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations running affected Tomcat versions, as it creates an attack surface that allows unauthorized cross-origin requests with credentials. An attacker could potentially exploit this weakness to perform cross-site request forgery attacks, access sensitive data from authenticated sessions, or manipulate application behavior across different origins. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where administrators do not regularly review or modify default configurations, as the vulnerability can persist unnoticed for extended periods. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering, and T1071, which addresses application layer protocol usage, as it enables malicious actors to leverage legitimate authentication mechanisms across unauthorized domains.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of Apache Tomcat where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper configuration defaults. The recommended mitigation strategy involves either updating to versions that contain the corrected CORS filter implementation or manually configuring the CORS filter to restrict credential support to specific, trusted origins only. Security administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of their Tomcat deployments to identify any systems running vulnerable versions and ensure that CORS configurations are properly hardened according to security best practices. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions that detect unusual cross-origin access patterns can provide early warning capabilities for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of reviewing default security configurations in web application servers and demonstrates how seemingly minor misconfigurations can create substantial security risks that persist across multiple versions of software components.