CVE-2019-3801 in Cloud Foundry cf-deployment
Summary
by MITRE
Cloud Foundry cf-deployment, versions prior to 7.9.0, contain java components that are using an insecure protocol to fetch dependencies when building. A remote unauthenticated malicious attacker could hijack the DNS entry for the dependency, and inject malicious code into the component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3801 affects Cloud Foundry cf-deployment versions prior to 7.9.0 and represents a critical supply chain security flaw that undermines the integrity of Java-based components within the platform. This issue stems from the use of insecure protocols during the dependency fetching process when building Java applications, creating a pathway for man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise the entire deployment pipeline. The flaw specifically impacts the build process where Java components retrieve external dependencies, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to inject malicious code into legitimate software components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the use of unencrypted or weakly secured protocols such as HTTP instead of HTTPS for downloading dependencies during the build phase. When developers or automated systems fetch Java libraries, frameworks, or other required components from remote repositories, the insecure protocol allows attackers to intercept these requests and redirect them to malicious servers. This type of attack falls under the category of DNS hijacking or DNS cache poisoning, where the attacker compromises the DNS resolution process to redirect traffic to attacker-controlled infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it occurs during the build process rather than in the runtime environment, meaning that malicious code can be injected into the software before it ever reaches production systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-3801 extends far beyond individual applications, affecting the entire Cloud Foundry ecosystem and potentially compromising multiple deployed services. A successful exploitation could result in the injection of backdoors, data exfiltration capabilities, or other malicious payloads that persist throughout the lifecycle of affected applications. Organizations using vulnerable versions of cf-deployment face significant risk of supply chain attacks where attackers compromise the build infrastructure to deliver malicious code to countless downstream consumers. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of network protocols, and represents a classic example of how insecure communication channels can undermine software integrity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to upgrade to cf-deployment version 7.9.0 or later, which implements secure protocol usage for dependency fetching. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as DNS security extensions, certificate pinning, and monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns that might indicate DNS hijacking attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive review of all build processes and dependency management systems to ensure that all HTTP requests are properly secured with HTTPS and certificate validation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1133 and T1071.1, representing external remote services and application layer protocols respectively, while also demonstrating the importance of securing the software supply chain as outlined in T1195. Organizations should also consider implementing software composition analysis tools to monitor for vulnerable dependencies and establish secure development practices that enforce the use of secure protocols throughout the entire development lifecycle.