CVE-2020-10537 in Epikur
Summary
by MITRE • 02/05/2021
An issue was discovered in Epikur before 20.1.1. A Glassfish 4.1 server with a default configuration is running on TCP port 4848. No password is required to access it with the administrator account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-10537 represents a critical security flaw in Epikur versions prior to 20.1.1 that exposes a Glassfish 4.1 server instance running on TCP port 4848 without authentication requirements. This configuration creates an easily exploitable administrative interface that allows unauthorized access to the system with default administrator privileges. The issue stems from the default installation configuration where the Glassfish administration console remains accessible without proper authentication mechanisms, effectively providing a backdoor for malicious actors to gain full administrative control over the affected system.
This vulnerability manifests as a serious authentication bypass flaw that aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The exposed Glassfish administration console on port 4848 represents a well-known management interface that typically requires strong authentication credentials to access administrative functions. The absence of password protection for the administrator account creates an immediate and severe risk that enables attackers to perform privileged operations including but not limited to application deployment, configuration changes, user management, and system monitoring. The default nature of this configuration means that organizations deploying Epikur without proper security hardening are immediately vulnerable to exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete system compromise and potential data breaches. An attacker who gains access through this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code, modify system configurations, escalate privileges, and potentially establish persistent access to the compromised environment. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1078 which addresses valid accounts usage. The exposed administrative interface provides attackers with a legitimate path to system control, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses normal security controls and authentication mechanisms that would otherwise protect the system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate the affected Glassfish server from critical network segments, disable the unnecessary administration console if possible, and apply the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to Epikur version 20.1.1 or later. The recommended mitigations include enforcing strong authentication requirements, implementing network access controls using firewalls to restrict access to port 4848, and conducting thorough security assessments to identify any potential exploitation that may have already occurred. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for unauthorized access attempts and implement intrusion detection systems to alert on suspicious network activity targeting the exposed administration port, as this vulnerability represents a clear indicator of poor security configuration practices that can lead to complete system compromise.