CVE-2023-42661 in Artifactory
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2024
JFrog Artifactory prior to version 7.76.2 is vulnerable to Arbitrary File Write of untrusted data, which may lead to DoS or Remote Code Execution when a specially crafted series of requests is sent by an authenticated user. This is due to insufficient validation of artifacts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2025
JFrog Artifactory version 7.76.1 and earlier contains a critical arbitrary file write vulnerability that stems from inadequate validation of uploaded artifacts within the repository management system. This vulnerability exists in the way the platform handles artifact processing and storage, particularly when dealing with specially crafted requests from authenticated users. The flaw allows an attacker with valid credentials to manipulate the file system by writing arbitrary files to locations that should normally be protected or restricted. This issue represents a significant security weakness that can be exploited to compromise the integrity and availability of the entire artifact repository infrastructure. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22 as improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, which is a well-known weakness in file system access controls and path validation mechanisms. The attack vector requires an authenticated user context, making it less immediately exploitable compared to unauthenticated attacks, but still poses a severe risk to organizations that rely on Artifactory for critical software artifact management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the artifact upload and processing phases within Artifactory's repository management functionality. When an authenticated user submits a specially crafted request containing malicious path specifications or manipulated artifact metadata, the system fails to properly validate the destination paths before writing files to the underlying file system. This insufficient validation allows the system to accept and process requests that would normally be rejected due to path traversal attempts or attempts to write to protected system directories. The vulnerability specifically impacts the artifact storage and retrieval mechanisms, where the platform does not adequately sanitize file paths or validate the intended storage locations against predefined safe directories. This weakness can be leveraged to overwrite critical system files, inject malicious code into the repository environment, or create backdoor access points within the file system. The operational impact extends beyond simple file corruption as it can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, potentially leading to both denial of service conditions and remote code execution capabilities within the affected Artifactory environment. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause system instability through resource exhaustion or by writing malicious files that disrupt normal repository operations. The ability to execute remote code through arbitrary file writes creates a pathway for attackers to gain persistent access to the repository server, potentially allowing them to escalate privileges and move laterally within the network infrastructure. Organizations using Artifactory for software distribution, build artifact management, and dependency resolution face significant risk as compromised repositories can serve as attack vectors for broader supply chain attacks. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity of software artifacts and can lead to the distribution of malicious code to development teams and end users. The risk is particularly high for organizations that depend on Artifactory for critical CI/CD pipeline operations, as compromised repositories can disrupt entire development workflows and potentially introduce security flaws into production software releases.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to JFrog Artifactory version 7.76.2 or later, which includes patches addressing the insufficient artifact validation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as restricting write permissions for authenticated users, implementing network segmentation around the Artifactory server, and monitoring for suspicious file upload patterns. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of existing repository contents to identify any potential compromise from previous exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through scripts and T1499.004 for denial of service through resource consumption. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous artifact upload behaviors and path manipulation attempts. Regular security assessments of repository configurations and access controls are essential to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the system infrastructure. The patch addresses the core validation issue by implementing stricter path validation mechanisms and ensuring that all artifact storage operations properly verify destination paths against allowed directories before proceeding with file write operations.