Critical Vulnerability in libcommons-fileupload-java: Remote File Write via NULL Byte Injection
Summary
DEBIAN-CVE-2013-2186: The DiskFileItem class in Apache Commons FileUpload, as used in Red Hat JBoss BRMS 5.3.1; JBoss Portal 4.3 CP07, 5.2.2, and 6.0.0; and Red Hat JBoss Web Server 1.0.2 allows remote attackers to write to arbitrary files vi... Affects libcommons-fileupload-java versions < 1.3-2.1. Fixed in 1.3-2.1. How to fix ↓
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Background
libcommons-fileupload-java is a Java library used for handling file uploads in web applications. It provides a simple API for uploading files and managing file data. However, this library has been found to be vulnerable to a critical issue that allows remote attackers to exploit the file upload functionality, potentially leading to unauthorized file writes on the server.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2013-2186, exists in the DiskFileItem class of Apache Commons FileUpload. It allows remote attackers to write to arbitrary files by exploiting a NULL byte in a file name within a serialized instance. This can lead to severe security implications, including unauthorized access to sensitive files and potential system compromise.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
1.3-2.1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade libcommons-fileupload-javaTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can implement input validation to sanitize file names before processing uploads. This can help mitigate the risk of NULL byte injection. Ensure that file names do not contain any unexpected characters or sequences.
Conclusion
The libcommons-fileupload-java package has a critical vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers to write arbitrary files on the server. It is crucial to update to the patched version 1.3-2.1 to mitigate this risk. Implementing input validation can serve as a temporary workaround until the update is applied.
See every vulnerability recorded for libcommons-fileupload-java →
FAQ
CVE-2013-2186 is a vulnerability in the libcommons-fileupload-java package that allows remote attackers to write to arbitrary files via a NULL byte in a file name.
You can use Vulert, a tool that monitors open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By uploading your manifest file like package-lock.json, Vulert can alert you in real-time about any vulnerabilities, including CVE-2013-2186.
The risks include unauthorized file access, potential data breaches, and the possibility of executing malicious code on the server.
Yes, implementing strict input validation on file names can help mitigate the risk until you can apply the necessary updates.
More information can be found in the official CVE database and on the Debian security advisories page.
References
Related vulnerabilities
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