CVE-2020-13445 in Liferay Portal
Summary
by MITRE
In Liferay Portal before 7.3.2 and Liferay DXP 7.0 before fix pack 92, 7.1 before fix pack 18, and 7.2 before fix pack 6, the template API does not restrict user access to sensitive objects, which allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via crafted FreeMarker and Velocity templates.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-13445 represents a critical security flaw within Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP platforms that affects multiple versions including Liferay Portal before 7.3.2 and various DXP versions before their respective fix packs. This issue stems from insufficient access controls within the template API component that governs how FreeMarker and Velocity templates are processed within the application environment. The vulnerability specifically targets the template processing engine's failure to properly validate and restrict user access to sensitive system objects and resources.
The technical implementation of this flaw allows authenticated attackers to craft malicious FreeMarker and Velocity templates that can bypass normal access restrictions and execute arbitrary code on the target system. This occurs because the template API does not adequately enforce security boundaries when processing user-supplied template content, enabling attackers to access internal system objects that should remain restricted to authorized administrative functions. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of template engine processing and access control mechanisms, creating a path for privilege escalation and code execution.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote authenticated attackers to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities within the Liferay environment, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious payloads, access sensitive data, escalate privileges, and potentially establish persistent access to the affected systems. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require local system access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered from any location with valid user credentials. The vulnerability affects organizations running unpatched versions of Liferay Portal and DXP, creating widespread exposure across various deployment scenarios.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of arbitrary code through template injection mechanisms. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the appropriate vendor security patches and fix packs for each affected version, including Liferay Portal 7.3.2 and the corresponding DXP fix packs for versions 7.0 through 7.2. Organizations should also implement additional controls such as template validation, access logging, and monitoring for suspicious template usage patterns. Network segmentation and privilege minimization practices should be enforced to limit the potential impact should exploitation occur, while regular security assessments of template processing components should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses.