CVE-2022-24969 in Dubbo
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2022
bypass CVE-2021-25640 > In Apache Dubbo prior to 2.6.12 and 2.7.15, the usage of parseURL method will lead to the bypass of the white host check which can cause open redirect or SSRF vulnerability.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-24969 represents a significant security flaw in Apache Dubbo versions prior to 2.6.12 and 2.7.15 that directly relates to the bypass of host validation mechanisms established to prevent open redirect and server-side request forgery attacks. This issue stems from the improper implementation of the parseURL method within the Dubbo framework's service discovery and registration components. The vulnerability specifically targets the white host check functionality that was originally designed to validate and restrict outbound requests to only pre-approved domains or IP addresses, thereby preventing malicious actors from redirecting traffic or making unauthorized requests to internal systems.
The technical flaw manifests when the parseURL method processes URLs that contain specially crafted hostnames or IP addresses that can bypass the validation logic implemented in the white host check mechanism. This occurs due to insufficient input sanitization and validation of URL components, allowing attackers to inject malicious hostnames that appear to be within the allowed whitelist but actually point to external or internal targets. The bypass mechanism exploits weaknesses in how the framework handles URL parsing and host verification, particularly when dealing with edge cases in hostname resolution or when the validation logic fails to properly normalize or canonicalize the input before checking against the whitelist.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it can enable attackers to perform open redirect attacks where users are unknowingly redirected to malicious websites, or execute server-side request forgery attacks that allow them to make requests to internal services that should otherwise be protected from external access. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on Apache Dubbo for microservices communication, as it can be exploited to bypass network security controls and gain unauthorized access to internal systems. The vulnerability can be especially dangerous in containerized environments or cloud deployments where internal service discovery and communication patterns are critical for system functionality.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and CWE-601 URL Redirector Abuse, representing a classic case where insufficient validation allows attackers to bypass security controls. The attack pattern follows ATT&CK techniques such as T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1566.001 Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to redirect users to malicious domains or target internal services. Organizations using Apache Dubbo should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to versions 2.6.12 or 2.7.15, implementing additional URL validation layers, and monitoring for suspicious URL patterns in service communication logs. Network segmentation and firewall rules should also be reviewed to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in distributed systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of service discovery and communication components in microservices architectures.