CVE-2018-8031 in TomEE Console
Summary
by MITRE
The TomEE console (tomee-webapp) has a XSS vulnerability which could allow javascript to be executed if the user is given a malicious URL. This web application is typically used to add TomEE features to a Tomcat installation. The TomEE bundles do not ship with this application included. This issue can be mitigated by removing the application after TomEE is setup (if using the application to install TomEE), using one of the provided pre-configured bundles, or by upgrading to TomEE 7.0.5. This issue is resolve in this commit: b8bbf50c23ce97dd64f3a5d77f78f84e47579863.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2020
The CVE-2018-8031 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw in the TomEE console component known as tomee-webapp, which poses significant security risks to applications deployed within Apache Tomcat environments. This vulnerability specifically affects the web administration interface that is typically integrated into TomEE installations to provide enhanced management capabilities. The TomEE console serves as a web-based management tool that allows administrators to configure and monitor TomEE applications, making it a critical component in enterprise deployments where security and access control are paramount. The vulnerability exists because the console fails to properly sanitize user input, particularly in URL parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session. This flaw is particularly concerning as it can be exploited through a simple malicious URL that, when clicked by an authenticated user, would execute the injected script in the victim's browser.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the TomEE console's parameter handling mechanisms. When users navigate to the console with specially crafted URL parameters, the application processes these inputs without proper sanitization, allowing malicious JavaScript code to be rendered in the web interface. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 - Cross-site Scripting, which specifically addresses the improper handling of untrusted data in web applications. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a user to be authenticated and to click on a maliciously crafted URL, making it a user-initiated attack vector that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution. The attack chain typically involves the attacker crafting a URL containing malicious JavaScript payloads that, when accessed by an administrator or authorized user, executes within the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the application environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-8031 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the compromised browser environment. Once exploited, the vulnerability could allow attackers to steal session cookies, manipulate application data, redirect users to malicious sites, or even escalate privileges within the TomEE management console. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to compromise the entire TomEE environment, potentially allowing attackers to modify application configurations, access sensitive data, or even deploy malicious applications. Organizations using TomEE for enterprise application deployment face significant risk as the console is often accessible to multiple administrators, increasing the attack surface and potential impact of exploitation. The vulnerability's persistence in the application's codebase highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation practices in web application development, as well as the need for continuous monitoring of third-party components for known vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-8031 involve several operational approaches that organizations can implement to protect their TomEE installations. The most effective solution is upgrading to TomEE version 7.0.5 or later, where the vulnerability has been patched through the commit referenced in the advisory. Organizations should also consider removing the tomee-webapp console application entirely if it is not required for their operations, as this eliminates the attack surface entirely. Alternative approaches include using pre-configured TomEE bundles that do not include the vulnerable console, or implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious input patterns. The vulnerability's resolution demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices, with the fix likely involving comprehensive sanitization of URL parameters and proper HTML escaping of user-supplied data. Security teams should also implement regular vulnerability scanning procedures to identify similar issues in other web applications and ensure that all third-party components are kept up to date with the latest security patches, as this vulnerability could potentially be exploited in conjunction with other weaknesses in the application stack.