Apache MyFaces Tomahawk JSF Framework Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Vulnerability

iDefense Security Advisory 06.14.07
http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/
Jun 14, 2007

I. BACKGROUND

Java Server Faces, JSF, is a framework used to create server side GUI
Web applications. It is comparable to the Java Struts framework. Apache
MyFaces Tomahawk is an open source implementation of JSF. The Tomahawk
version contains Apache extensions to the base specification. More
information is available at the following URL.

http://myfaces.apache.org/

II. DESCRIPTION

Remote exploitation of an input validation vulnerability in Apache
Software Foundation's MyFaces Tomahawk JSF framework could allow an
attacker to perform a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack.

The code responsible for parsing HTTP requests is vulnerable to an XSS
vulnerability. When parsing the 'autoscroll' parameter from a POST or
GET request, the value of this variable is directly inserted into
JavaScript that is sent back to the client. This allows an attacker to
run arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the affected domain of the
MyFaces application being targeted.

III. ANALYSIS

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to
conduct an XSS attack on a user. This could allow an attacker to steal
cookies, inject content into pages, or submit requests using the user's
credentials.

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must use social engineering
techniques to persuade the user to click a link to a Web application
that uses MyFaces Tomahawk. In the following example, the [javascript]
portion of the request would be present unfiltered in the returned
content.

  http://www.vulnerable.tld/some_app.jsf?autoscroll=[javascript]

IV. DETECTION

iDefense has confirmed the existence of this vulnerability in MyFaces
Tomahawk version 1.1.5. Previous versions may also be affected.

V. WORKAROUND

iDefense is currently unaware of any workaround for this issue.

VI. VENDOR RESPONSE

The Apache Software Foundation MyFaces team has addressed this
vulnerability by releasing version 1.1.6 of MyFaces Tomahawk. More
information can be found at the following URL.

http://issues.apache.org/jira/secure/ReleaseNote.jspa?version=12312536&styleName=Text&projectId=12310272

VII. CVE INFORMATION

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the
name CVE-2007-3101 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in
the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org/), which standardizes names for
security problems.

VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE

06/05/2007  Initial vendor notification
06/05/2007  Initial vendor response
06/14/2007  Coordinated public disclosure

IX. CREDIT

This vulnerability was reported to iDefense by Rajat Swarup of VeriSign
Global Security Consulting.

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X. LEGAL NOTICES

Copyright © 2007 iDefense, Inc.

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