CVE-2020-19150 in Jfinal
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2021
Improper Access Control in Jfinal CMS v4.7.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information or cause a denial of service via the 'FileManager.delete()' function in the component 'modules/filemanager/FileManagerController.java'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-19150 represents a critical improper access control flaw within Jfinal CMS version 4.7.1 and earlier implementations. This security weakness resides in the file management component of the content management system, specifically within the FileManager.delete() function located in modules/filemanager/FileManagerController.java. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit the system without proper authentication or authorization, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on this platform for their web content management needs.
The technical flaw manifests through the inadequate validation of user permissions within the FileManagerController class. When the delete() method processes file deletion requests, it fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges or authorization to perform such operations. This improper access control stems from a lack of robust authentication checks and authorization validation mechanisms that should normally be enforced before executing sensitive operations. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the file management functionality that should only be accessible to authenticated administrators with appropriate clearance levels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential denial of service conditions and unauthorized data manipulation. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to delete critical system files, corrupt data repositories, or disrupt normal operations through strategic file deletion attacks. The consequences can range from complete system service interruption to unauthorized access to sensitive organizational data, depending on the specific files targeted and the overall system architecture. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on Jfinal CMS for content management, making it a significant concern for businesses, government agencies, and organizations with online presences.
Security professionals should address this vulnerability through immediate patching of affected systems, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the file management endpoints, and establishing comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized file deletion activities. Organizations should also review and strengthen their access control policies, ensuring that proper authentication mechanisms are in place before any file manipulation operations are permitted. The flaw aligns with CWE-285, which specifically addresses improper authorization in software systems, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1485 for data destruction, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses in other components of the application stack to prevent future incidents of this nature.