CVE-2010-1871
Red Hat Linux JBoss Seam 2 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2010-1871 is a high-severity Expression Language injection vulnerability in JBoss Seam 2, as used in Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 4.3.0. The vulnerability exists because JBoss Seam 2 does not properly sanitize inputs for JBoss Expression Language (EL) expressions, allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted URLs. This EL injection vulnerability can only be exploited when the Java Security Manager is not properly configured. CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2010-1871 by adding it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. With an EPSS score of 93.39% (99.81st percentile), this JBoss Seam 2 vulnerability has a near-certain probability of exploitation.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorCWEs
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| redhat | jboss enterprise application platform | 4.3.0 |
| netapp | oncommand balance | - |
| netapp | oncommand insight | - |
| netapp | oncommand unified manager | - |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/2013-05/0117.html(Broken Link)
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0564.html(Broken Link)
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/41994(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1024253(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/1929(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=615956(Issue Tracking)
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/60794(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20161017-0001/(Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2010-1871(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection')
Expression Language Injection occurs when software constructs EL statements using externally-influenced input without properly neutralizing special elements. In JBoss Seam 2, user-supplied input from URL parameters is incorporated into JBoss EL expressions without adequate sanitization, enabling attackers to inject malicious expressions that execute arbitrary code on the server, including invoking methods like Runtime.exec() for command execution.
Learn more: CWE-917 — Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement
Impact Analysis
CVE-2010-1871 carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 (HIGH), reflecting a severe threat to organizations running JBoss Seam 2 on JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 4.3.0. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network with low attack complexity, requires no authentication, though user interaction is required for exploitation. Confidentiality (High): attackers can access sensitive data on the server including configuration files, credentials, and application data. Integrity (High): arbitrary code execution allows complete modification of application state, data, and server configurations. Availability (High): attackers can disrupt services through system commands or resource exhaustion. The EPSS score of 93.39% (99.81st percentile) indicates near-certain exploitation activity. Organizations running unpatched JBoss Seam 2 environments, particularly those where the Java Security Manager is not properly configured, face critical risk of remote code execution through this well-known attack vector.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2010-1871 is confirmed as actively exploited through its listing in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a remediation deadline of 2022-06-10. The EPSS score of 93.39% (99.81st percentile) indicates near-certain exploitation probability. While the available references do not include entries specifically tagged as public exploits, the vulnerability has been well-documented since 2010, and exploitation techniques for JBoss EL injection are widely known in the security community. The combination of long public exposure, simple exploitation via crafted URLs, and the high EPSS score strongly suggest that reliable exploit methods are readily accessible to threat actors.
Remediation
- Apply vendor patches immediately as mandated by CISA KEV: Apply updates per vendor instructions. Red Hat released RHSA-2010-0564 with specific patches for this JBoss Seam 2 vulnerability.
- Upgrade JBoss Enterprise Application Platform from the affected version 4.3.0 to a patched release that addresses the EL injection vulnerability. Consider migrating to a newer version of JBoss EAP that includes comprehensive input sanitization for EL expressions.
- Ensure the Java Security Manager is properly configured, as CVE-2010-1871 can only be exploited when the Security Manager is not correctly set up. Implement restrictive security policies that prevent code execution through EL expressions.
- Implement web application firewall rules to detect and block crafted URLs containing malicious JBoss EL expression syntax. Monitor HTTP request logs for suspicious URL patterns that include EL expression characters such as #, {, and }.
- Apply defense-in-depth by restricting which classes and methods can be accessed through JBoss EL expressions. Disable expression language evaluation in components where dynamic expressions are not required, and implement strict input validation using allowlists for all user-supplied parameters.
Technical Details
CVE-2010-1871 exploits improper input sanitization in the JBoss Seam 2 framework's handling of JBoss Expression Language (EL) expressions. The JBoss Seam 2 framework, as used in JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 4.3.0, processes URL parameters that are incorporated into EL statements without neutralizing special elements. An attacker can craft a URL containing malicious EL expressions that, when processed by the Seam 2 framework, are evaluated as executable code on the server. This enables arbitrary command execution, including invoking Java methods such as Runtime.exec(). The CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates that while the attack requires user interaction (such as clicking a crafted link), it is otherwise trivially exploitable over the network with no authentication needed. The vulnerability is specifically contingent on improper Java Security Manager configuration, which serves as the primary mitigating factor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2010-1871 being actively exploited?
Yes. CVE-2010-1871 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation. The EPSS score of 93.39% (99.81st percentile) indicates near-certain exploitation probability. The vulnerability has been publicly known since 2010.
What products are affected by CVE-2010-1871?
CVE-2010-1871 primarily affects JBoss Seam 2 as used in Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 4.3.0. Additionally, NetApp OnCommand Balance, OnCommand Insight, and OnCommand Unified Manager are also listed as affected products.
How do I fix CVE-2010-1871?
Apply the patches from Red Hat security advisory RHSA-2010-0564. Upgrade to a patched version of JBoss EAP. Ensure the Java Security Manager is properly configured, as the vulnerability can only be exploited when it is misconfigured. Implement WAF rules to block malicious EL expressions.
How severe is CVE-2010-1871?
CVE-2010-1871 has a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 (HIGH) and is in the 99.81st percentile for exploitation probability. It enables remote code execution through crafted URLs and is actively exploited in the wild, making it a high-priority remediation target.
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