CVE-2019-10240 in hawkBit
Summary
by MITRE
Eclipse hawkBit versions prior to 0.3.0M2 resolved Maven build artifacts for the Vaadin based UI over HTTP instead of HTTPS. Any of these dependent artifacts could have been maliciously compromised by a MITM attack. Hence produced build artifacts of hawkBit might be infected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10240 affects Eclipse hawkBit versions prior to 0.3.0M2 and represents a critical security flaw in the software supply chain. This issue specifically impacts the build process where Maven dependencies for the Vaadin-based user interface are resolved over unencrypted HTTP connections rather than secure HTTPS protocols. The flaw creates an attack surface that allows malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks during the artifact resolution process, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire build pipeline.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper configuration of Maven dependency resolution within the hawkBit build environment. When the system resolves Maven artifacts for the Vaadin UI components, it defaults to HTTP protocols which lack encryption and authentication mechanisms. This configuration creates a dangerous scenario where attackers can intercept network traffic between the build system and Maven repositories, substituting legitimate artifacts with malicious versions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-319 as it involves the exposure of sensitive information through insecure communication channels, specifically the transmission of credentials and artifacts over unencrypted connections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code compromise, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model of the software build process. Any dependent Maven artifact could be maliciously modified during transit, potentially introducing backdoors, trojans, or other malicious code into the final hawkBit distribution. This creates a supply chain attack vector that affects not only the developers but also all downstream users who trust the integrity of the software distribution. The vulnerability affects the entire software development lifecycle by compromising the integrity of the build artifacts, potentially leading to compromised systems in production environments.
Organizations utilizing affected hawkBit versions face significant risks including potential system compromise, data breaches, and unauthorized access to deployment environments. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1583.001 which covers the development of tools and techniques for supply chain attacks. Security teams must consider the broader implications of compromised build systems, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access points through potentially compromised software distributions. The impact is particularly severe because the compromised artifacts would be trusted by legitimate users and systems, making detection and remediation challenging.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to hawkBit version 0.3.0M2 or later, which properly enforces HTTPS resolution for all Maven artifacts. Additionally, organizations should implement network-level controls to prevent HTTP traffic to Maven repositories and consider implementing artifact signing mechanisms to verify the integrity of downloaded dependencies. Security configurations should enforce strict TLS requirements for all external connections, and build systems should be audited for similar insecure dependency resolution patterns. The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring all artifact resolution occurs over encrypted channels, thereby eliminating the man-in-the-middle attack surface and restoring trust in the software supply chain integrity.