CVE-2021-3425 in AMQ
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2021
A flaw was found in the AMQ Broker that discloses JDBC encrypted usernames and passwords when provided in the AMQ Broker application logfile when using the jdbc persistence functionality. Versions shipped in Red Hat AMQ 7 are vulnerable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2021
This vulnerability resides in the Red Hat AMQ Broker 7 messaging platform where a critical security flaw exists in the jdbc persistence functionality. The issue manifests when the broker logs sensitive information containing encrypted JDBC credentials, creating an information disclosure risk that can be exploited by unauthorized parties. The flaw specifically affects systems where the AMQ Broker is configured to use JDBC persistence mechanisms for message storage and retrieval, making it a significant concern for enterprise messaging environments that rely on secure credential handling.
The technical implementation flaw occurs within the logging subsystem of the AMQ Broker when it processes and records JDBC connection details during persistence operations. When the broker encounters encrypted usernames and passwords through JDBC connections, these credentials are inadvertently included in the application log files without proper sanitization or obfuscation. This behavior violates fundamental security principles for credential handling and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege as defined in the CWE taxonomy under CWE-200. The vulnerability essentially creates a logging mechanism that fails to properly separate sensitive data from regular operational logging, exposing authentication credentials that should remain protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it can lead to complete system compromise when attackers gain access to these log files. An attacker with access to the system's log directories or with privileges to read application logs can extract the encrypted JDBC credentials and potentially reverse-engineer the encryption to obtain plaintext credentials. This creates a serious risk for enterprise messaging infrastructure where the AMQ Broker manages critical financial transactions, healthcare data, or other sensitive information flows. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity aspects of the CIA security triad, as it allows unauthorized disclosure of authentication information and potentially enables further exploitation through privilege escalation attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper log sanitization mechanisms and restricting access to sensitive log files. Organizations should immediately implement log rotation and access controls to limit who can read the AMQ Broker log files, while also ensuring that any sensitive information is properly obfuscated before logging. The recommended approach includes disabling or restricting JDBC persistence logging, implementing custom logging filters that strip sensitive data, and applying the latest security patches from Red Hat. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security audits of their logging configurations and implement monitoring solutions that can detect unusual access patterns to log files. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1562.006 for "Impair Defenses: Obfuscated Files or Information" and represents a classic example of how insecure logging practices can create persistent security risks in enterprise systems.