iDefense Security Advisory 06.03.08 - Remote exploitation of design error in Sun Microsystem's Java System Active Server Pages allows attackers to bypass administration server authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability exists due to improper design of the ASP application server. The administration application server exists as a stand-alone service that listens on TCP port 5102. By connecting directly to this service and making requests, attackers are able to bypass authentication mechanisms introduce by the administration HTTP server. iDefense has confirmed the existence of this vulnerability within version 4.0.2 of Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Java System Active Server Pages. Older versions are suspected to be vulnerable.
2d4b1c50109624d2045044c60d6b665894482900ea27dac1d1192bf883ed8983
iDefense Security Advisory 06.03.08
http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/
Jun 03, 2008
I. BACKGROUND
Sun Java System Active Server Pages is a multi-platform ASP application
server. It provides provides ASP (Active Server Pages) functionality to
a web server. More information is available at the following URL.
http://www.sun.com/software/chilisoft/index.xml
II. DESCRIPTION
Remote exploitation of design error in Sun Microsystem's Java System
Active Server Pages allows attackers to bypass administration server
authentication mechanisms.
The vulnerability exists due to improper design of the ASP application
server. The administration application server exists as a stand-alone
service that listens on TCP port 5102. By connecting directly to this
service and making requests, attackers are able to bypass
authentication mechanisms introduce by the administration HTTP server.
III. ANALYSIS
Exploitation allows an attacker to bypass authentication restrictions
imposed by the HTTP server. No authentication is required to
communicate with the affected administration application server. The
attacker only needs to be able to establish a session with the
administration application server on TCP port 5102.
IV. DETECTION
iDefense has confirmed the existence of this vulnerability within
version 4.0.2 of Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Java System Active Server
Pages. Older versions are suspected to be vulnerable.
V. WORKAROUND
In order to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability, disable
administration server by executing the following command as the 'root'
user.
# /opt/casp/admtool -e
VI. VENDOR RESPONSE
Sun Microsystems has addressed this vulnerability with the release of
version 4.0.3 of Sun Java System Active Server Pages. For more
information, refer to Sun Alert 238184 at the following URL.
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-66-238184-1
VII. CVE INFORMATION
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the
name CVE-2008-2406 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
05/11/2007 Initial vendor notification
05/11/2007 Initial vendor response
06/03/2008 Coordinated public disclosure
IX. CREDIT
The discoverer of this vulnerability wishes to remain anonymous.
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X. LEGAL NOTICES
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at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use
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