CVE-2019-17564 in Dubbo
Summary
by MITRE
Unsafe deserialization occurs within a Dubbo application which has HTTP remoting enabled. An attacker may submit a POST request with a Java object in it to completely compromise a Provider instance of Apache Dubbo, if this instance enables HTTP. This issue affected Apache Dubbo 2.7.0 to 2.7.4, 2.6.0 to 2.6.7, and all 2.5.x versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2019-17564 represents a critical unsafe deserialization flaw within Apache Dubbo framework versions ranging from 2.5.x through 2.7.4. This weakness specifically manifests when Dubbo applications utilize HTTP remoting capabilities, creating an attack surface that allows remote code execution through carefully crafted malicious payloads. The vulnerability stems from the framework's improper handling of serialized Java objects received through HTTP POST requests, particularly when these objects are processed without adequate validation or sanitization mechanisms. The flaw exists at the core of Dubbo's serialization layer where untrusted input is directly deserialized without proper security checks, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise backend services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of Java's serialization mechanism within the Dubbo HTTP remoting component. When a Dubbo provider instance accepts HTTP requests containing serialized Java objects, the framework deserializes these objects without sufficient security controls to prevent malicious code execution. Attackers can craft specially designed serialized objects that, when processed by the vulnerable Dubbo application, trigger arbitrary code execution on the target server. This occurs because the deserialization process does not implement proper object validation or whitelist-based deserialization patterns that would prevent the execution of malicious payloads. The vulnerability affects all versions within the 2.5.x, 2.6.x, and 2.7.x release series, indicating a widespread issue that has persisted across multiple major versions of the framework. The attack vector specifically targets HTTP-enabled Dubbo providers, making applications that expose their services over HTTP particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-17564 is severe and far-reaching for organizations using vulnerable Dubbo implementations. Successful exploitation allows attackers to achieve complete compromise of affected provider instances, enabling them to execute arbitrary code, access sensitive data, and potentially escalate privileges within the compromised environment. This vulnerability can lead to full system takeover, data exfiltration, and disruption of critical business services that rely on Dubbo for distributed application communication. The attack requires minimal sophistication, as it only necessitates sending a malicious POST request with serialized Java objects, making it particularly dangerous for production environments where Dubbo services are exposed to untrusted networks. Organizations with vulnerable Dubbo applications face significant risk of unauthorized access to their backend systems, potentially compromising entire distributed application architectures that depend on Dubbo for service communication.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-17564 should focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of Apache Dubbo, specifically versions 2.6.8 and 2.7.5 or later, which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement network-level restrictions to limit access to Dubbo HTTP endpoints, ensuring that only trusted sources can submit requests to these interfaces. Additionally, security measures should include disabling HTTP remoting if it is not essential for the application's functionality, and implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all deserialization operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which describes unsafe deserialization, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute commands on compromised systems. Organizations should also consider implementing application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious deserialization patterns, and conduct thorough security assessments to identify all instances of vulnerable Dubbo implementations within their infrastructure.