CVE-2023-25141 in Sling JCR Base
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2023
Apache Sling JCR Base < 3.1.12 has a critical injection vulnerability when running on old JDK versions (JDK 1.8.191 or earlier) through utility functions in RepositoryAccessor. The functions getRepository and getRepositoryFromURL allow an application to access data stored in a remote location via JDNI and RMI. Users of Apache Sling JCR Base are recommended to upgrade to Apache Sling JCR Base 3.1.12 or later, or to run on a more recent JDK.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-25141 represents a critical injection flaw within Apache Sling JCR Base versions prior to 3.1.12 that specifically impacts deployments running on older JDK versions. This vulnerability resides in the RepositoryAccessor utility functions, particularly the getRepository and getRepositoryFromURL methods that facilitate remote data access through JNDI and RMI protocols. The flaw becomes exploitable when the application operates on JDK versions 1.8.191 or earlier, creating a dangerous attack surface that allows remote code execution through maliciously crafted JNDI references. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the repository access mechanisms, enabling attackers to inject malicious JNDI lookup requests that can be resolved to remote servers controlled by adversaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of remote repository URLs and JNDI references within the RepositoryAccessor component. When the getRepository and getRepositoryFromURL functions process user-supplied input, they fail to adequately validate or sanitize the provided URLs, allowing attackers to inject malicious JNDI references that can resolve to attacker-controlled remote servers. This creates a path for remote code execution where the JDK's JNDI subsystem resolves the malicious reference and loads remote classes, potentially executing arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the inherent capabilities of JNDI and RMI protocols to establish connections to remote services, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network monitoring approaches.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-25141 is severe and potentially catastrophic for organizations using affected Apache Sling JCR Base versions. Successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms being established within the affected environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in JCR repositories, potentially accessing confidential information, user credentials, or business-critical data. The vulnerability affects systems that rely on remote repository access through JNDI and RMI protocols, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where such access patterns are common. Organizations running these vulnerable versions face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations due to the critical nature of the vulnerability.
The recommended mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-25141 focus on immediate remediation through version upgrades and JDK updates. Organizations should upgrade to Apache Sling JCR Base version 3.1.12 or later, which includes patches addressing the injection vulnerability in the RepositoryAccessor utility functions. Additionally, systems should be migrated to run on JDK versions newer than 1.8.191 to eliminate the vulnerability exploitation vector. Security teams should implement network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict JNDI and RMI traffic between application servers and external networks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution through JNDI lookup mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies, input validation controls, and monitoring for suspicious JNDI lookup patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in Java application security, particularly concerning the legacy support of older JDK versions and the inherent risks associated with JNDI and RMI protocols. The attack surface expands significantly when applications are deployed on outdated JDK versions, as these systems lack the security improvements and mitigations present in newer releases. Security practitioners should recognize that vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-25141 often require comprehensive remediation approaches that address both software dependencies and runtime environments. The interconnected nature of this vulnerability with Java security frameworks emphasizes the importance of maintaining current security practices and regularly updating development environments to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in widely used components.