CVE-2022-35857 in kvf-admin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2022
kvf-admin through 2022-02-12 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code because deserialization is mishandled. The rememberMe parameter is encrypted with a hardcoded key from the com.kalvin.kvf.common.shiro.ShiroConfig file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-35857 affects the kvf-admin application version 2022-02-12 and earlier, presenting a critical remote code execution risk due to improper deserialization handling. This flaw exists within the application's authentication mechanism where the rememberMe parameter undergoes encryption using a hardcoded cryptographic key stored in the com.kalvin.kvf.common.shiro.ShiroConfig configuration file. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize serialized objects during the deserialization process, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to craft malicious serialized payloads.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's use of Apache Shiro framework for authentication management, where the hardcoded encryption key creates a persistent security weakness that remains unchanged across deployments. When the rememberMe parameter is processed, the application performs deserialization without adequate input validation, enabling attackers to inject malicious serialized objects that can execute arbitrary code on the target system. This represents a classic deserialization vulnerability pattern that aligns with CWE-502, which specifically addresses unsafe deserialization of untrusted data. The hardcoded key in the ShiroConfig file eliminates any possibility of dynamic key rotation or proper key management, making the system particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with complete remote code execution capabilities on the affected system. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the application server, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or further lateral movement within the network. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target environment, making it particularly dangerous for publicly exposed applications. The vulnerability affects the authentication flow specifically, which means that successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely or escalate privileges within the application.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of kvf-admin that addresses this deserialization flaw, removing or disabling the rememberMe functionality until a secure implementation is deployed, and implementing proper input validation for all deserialization operations. The hardcoded key in the ShiroConfig file should be replaced with a dynamically generated encryption key that follows secure key management practices. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability may be targeted by automated scanning tools. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) as attackers may use this vulnerability to execute malicious payloads or establish persistence within the compromised environment. The mitigation strategy should also include regular security assessments and code reviews focused on deserialization handling to prevent similar issues in other components of the application stack.