CVE-2020-24639 in Airwave Glass
Summary
by MITRE • 01/16/2021
There is a vulnerability caused by unsafe Java deserialization that allows for arbitrary command execution in a containerized environment within Airwave Glass before 1.3.3. Successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the underlying host operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-24639 represents a critical security flaw in Airwave Glass software versions prior to 1.3.3, specifically targeting containerized environments where Java applications are deployed. This issue stems from unsafe Java deserialization practices that create a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the host system. The flaw exists within the application's handling of serialized Java objects, which are typically used to transmit data between different parts of a distributed system or to persist application state. When these serialized objects are received from untrusted sources without proper validation, they can be manipulated to trigger malicious code execution during the deserialization process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which describes unsafe deserialization as a common weakness in software applications where untrusted data is deserialized without adequate validation or sanitization. In the context of Airwave Glass, the vulnerability manifests when the application processes serialized Java objects that contain malicious payloads designed to exploit the deserialization mechanism. The attack vector typically involves sending specially crafted serialized data to the vulnerable application, which then deserializes this data without proper security checks, allowing the attacker to inject and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying host system. This process bypasses normal application security controls and can provide attackers with elevated privileges that enable complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-24639 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security boundaries that containerized environments are designed to maintain. When exploited in containerized deployments, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute commands with the privileges of the container process, which often translates to host-level access due to container escape mechanisms or misconfigured security policies. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where Airwave Glass may be used to manage network infrastructure, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain control over critical network monitoring and management functions. The vulnerability essentially eliminates the security isolation that containers are supposed to provide, allowing attackers to move laterally from the compromised container to the host system and potentially to other systems within the network.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to Airwave Glass version 1.3.3 or later, which addresses the unsafe deserialization issue through proper input validation and sanitization of serialized data. Additional mitigations should include network segmentation to limit access to affected systems, implementation of strict firewall rules to restrict communication with the vulnerable application, and deployment of intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious deserialization activity. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage the arbitrary command execution capability to establish persistent access and escalate privileges. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for unusual deserialization patterns, as these measures can provide additional defense-in-depth against exploitation attempts.