Apache Struts 2 'class' Parameter ClassLoader Manipulation - Nessus

Medium Plugin ID: 73203

This page contains detailed information about the Apache Struts 2 'class' Parameter ClassLoader Manipulation Nessus plugin including available exploits and PoCs found on GitHub, in Metasploit or Exploit-DB for verifying of this vulnerability.

Table Of Contents

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Plugin Overview
Vulnerability Information

Synopsis
Description
Solution

Public Exploits
Risk Information
Plugin Source
How to Run
References
Version

Plugin Overview

ID: 73203
Name: Apache Struts 2 'class' Parameter ClassLoader Manipulation
Filename: struts_2_3_16_1_classloader_manipulation.nasl
Vulnerability Published: 2014-03-06
This Plugin Published: 2014-03-26
Last Modification Time: 2022-04-11
Plugin Version: 1.18
Plugin Type: remote
Plugin Family: CGI abuses
Dependencies: http_version.nasl, webmirror.nasl

Vulnerability Information

Severity: Medium
Vulnerability Published: 2014-03-06
Patch Published: 2014-03-05
CVE [?]: CVE-2014-0094
CPE [?]: cpe:/a:apache:struts

Synopsis

The remote web server contains a web application that uses a Java framework that is affected by a security bypass vulnerability.

Description

The remote web application appears to use Struts 2, a web framework that utilizes OGNL (Object-Graph Navigation Language) as an expression language. The version of Struts 2 in use is affected by a security bypass vulnerability due to the application allowing manipulation of the ClassLoader via the 'class' parameter, which is directly mapped to the getClass() method. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can take advantage of this issue to manipulate the ClassLoader used by the application server, allowing for the bypass of certain security restrictions.

Note that this plugin will only report the first vulnerable instance of a Struts 2 application.

Note also that the application may also be affected by a denial of service vulnerability; however, Nessus has not tested for this additional issue.

Solution

Upgrade to version 2.3.16.2 or later.

Public Exploits

Target Network Port(s): 80, 8080
Target Asset(s): Services/www
Exploit Available: True (Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB, GitHub, Core Impact)
Exploit Ease: No exploit is required

Here's the list of publicly known exploits and PoCs for verifying the Apache Struts 2 'class' Parameter ClassLoader Manipulation vulnerability:

Metasploit: exploit/multi/http/struts_code_exec_classloader
[Apache Struts ClassLoader Manipulation Remote Code Execution]
Exploit-DB: exploits/multiple/remote/33142.rb
[EDB-33142: Apache Struts - ClassLoader Manipulation Remote Code Execution (Metasploit)]
Exploit-DB: exploits/multiple/remote/41690.rb
[EDB-41690: Apache Struts < 1.3.10 / < 2.3.16.2 - ClassLoader Manipulation Remote Code Execution (Metasploit)]
GitHub: https://github.com/HasegawaTadamitsu/CVE-2014-0094-test-program-for-struts1
[CVE-2014-0094: CVE-2014-0094 test program for struts1]
GitHub: https://github.com/fupinglee/Struts2_Bugs
[CVE-2014-0094]

Before running any exploit against any system, make sure you are authorized by the owner of the target system(s) to perform such activity. In any other case, this would be considered as an illegal activity.

WARNING: Beware of using unverified exploits from sources such as GitHub or Exploit-DB. These exploits and PoCs could contain malware. For more information, see how to use exploits safely.

Risk Information

CVSS Score Source [?]: CVE-2014-0094
CVSS V2 Vector: AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N/E:F/RL:OF/RC:C

CVSS Base Score:	5.0 (Medium)
Impact Subscore:	2.9
Exploitability Subscore:	10.0
CVSS Temporal Score:	4.1 (Medium)
CVSS Environmental Score:	NA (None)
Modified Impact Subscore:	NA
Overall CVSS Score:	4.1 (Medium)

CVSS V3 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:F/RL:O/RC:C

CVSS Base Score:	5.3 (Medium)
Impact Subscore:	1.4
Exploitability Subscore:	3.9
CVSS Temporal Score:	4.9 (Medium)
CVSS Environmental Score:	NA (None)
Modified Impact Subscore:	NA
Overall CVSS Score:	4.9 (Medium)

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Plugin Source

#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 70300
#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include('deprecated_nasl_level.inc');
include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(73203);
  script_version("1.18");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2022/04/11");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2014-0094");
  script_bugtraq_id(65999);
  script_xref(name:"CERT", value:"719225");

  script_name(english:"Apache Struts 2 'class' Parameter ClassLoader Manipulation");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The remote web server contains a web application that uses a Java framework that is affected by a security bypass
vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The remote web application appears to use Struts 2, a web framework that utilizes OGNL (Object-Graph Navigation
Language) as an expression language. The version of Struts 2 in use is affected by a security bypass vulnerability due
to the application allowing manipulation of the ClassLoader via the 'class' parameter, which is directly mapped to the
getClass() method. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can take advantage of this issue to manipulate the ClassLoader
used by the application server, allowing for the bypass of certain security restrictions.

Note that this plugin will only report the first vulnerable instance of a Struts 2 application.

Note also that the application may also be affected by a denial of service vulnerability; however, Nessus has not
tested for this additional issue.");
  # https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/S2-020
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?2926fce9");
  # https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/WW/Version+Notes+2.3.16.2
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?e39cc37e");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to version 2.3.16.2 or later.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:F/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:F/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2014-0094");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No exploit is required");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_framework_core", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"metasploit_name", value:'Apache Struts ClassLoader Manipulation Remote Code Execution');
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_framework_metasploit", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2014/03/06");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2014/03/05");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2014/03/26");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"remote");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:apache:struts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"thorough_tests", value:"true");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_ATTACK);
  script_family(english:"CGI abuses");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2014-2022 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("http_version.nasl", "webmirror.nasl");
  script_require_ports("Services/www", 80, 8080);

  exit(0);
}

include('audit.inc');
include('global_settings.inc');
include('http.inc');
include('misc_func.inc');

port = get_http_port(default:8080);
cgis = get_kb_list('www/' + port + '/cgi');

urls = make_list();
# To identify actions that we can test the exploit on we will look
# for files with the .action / .jsp / .do suffix from the KB.
if (!isnull(cgis))
{
  foreach cgi (cgis)
  {
    match = pregmatch(pattern:"((^.*)(/.+\.act(ion)?)($|\?|;))", string:cgi);
    if (!isnull(match))
    {
      urls = make_list(urls, match[0]);
      if (!thorough_tests) break;
    }
    match2 = pregmatch(pattern:"(^.*)(/.+\.jsp)$", string:cgi);
    if (!isnull(match2))
    {
      urls = make_list(urls, match2[0]);
      if (!thorough_tests) break;
    }
    match3 = pregmatch(pattern:"(^.*)(/.+\.do)$", string:cgi);
    if (!isnull(match3))
    {
      urls = make_list(urls, match3[0]);
      if (!thorough_tests) break;
    }
    if (cgi =~ "struts2?(-rest)?-showcase")
    {
      urls = make_list(urls, cgi);
      if (!thorough_tests) break;
    }
  }
}
if (thorough_tests)
{
  cgi2 = get_kb_list('www/' + port + '/content/extensions/act*');
  if (!isnull(cgi2)) urls = make_list(urls, cgi2);

  cgi3 = get_kb_list('www/' + port + '/content/extensions/jsp');
  if (!isnull(cgi3)) urls = make_list(urls, cgi3);

  cgi4 = get_kb_list('www/' + port + '/content/extensions/do');
  if (!isnull(cgi4)) urls = make_list(urls, cgi4);
}

# Always check web root
urls = make_list(urls, '/');

# Struts is slow
timeout = get_read_timeout() * 2;
if(timeout < 10)
  timeout = 10;
http_set_read_timeout(timeout);

urls = list_uniq(urls);

script = SCRIPT_NAME - '.nasl' + '-' + unixtime();

pat = '(Invalid field value for field|No result defined for action)';

foreach url (urls)
{
  res = http_send_recv3(
    method : 'GET',
    port   : port,
    item   : url,
    exit_on_fail : TRUE
  );
  chk1 = egrep(pattern:pat, string:res[2], icase:TRUE);

  vuln_url = url + '?class.classLoader.URLs[0]=' + script;

  res = http_send_recv3(
    method : 'GET',
    port   : port,
    item   : vuln_url,
    fetch404 : TRUE,
    exit_on_fail : TRUE
  );

  pat_match = pregmatch(pattern:pat, string:res[2], icase:TRUE);
  if (
    !isnull(pat_match) &&
    (res[0] =~ "200 OK|404 Not Found") &&
    (!chk1) &&
    (!empty_or_null(pat_match[1]))
  )
  {
    vuln = TRUE;
    output = strstr(res[2], pat_match[1]);
    if (empty_or_null(output)) output = res[2];
    # Stop after first vulnerable Struts app is found
    break;
  }
}

if (!vuln) exit(0, 'No vulnerable applications were detected on the web server listening on port '+port+'.');

security_report_v4(
  port       : port,
  severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
  generic    : TRUE,
  request    : make_list(build_url(qs:vuln_url, port:port)),
  output     : chomp(output)
);

The latest version of this script can be found in these locations depending on your platform:

Linux / Unix:
/opt/nessus/lib/nessus/plugins/struts_2_3_16_1_classloader_manipulation.nasl
Windows:
C:\ProgramData\Tenable\Nessus\nessus\plugins\struts_2_3_16_1_classloader_manipulation.nasl
Mac OS X:
/Library/Nessus/run/lib/nessus/plugins/struts_2_3_16_1_classloader_manipulation.nasl

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How to Run

Here is how to run the Apache Struts 2 'class' Parameter ClassLoader Manipulation as a standalone plugin via the Nessus web user interface (https://localhost:8834/):

Click to start a New Scan.
Select Advanced Scan.
Navigate to the Plugins tab.
On the top right corner click to Disable All plugins.
On the left side table select CGI abuses plugin family.
On the right side table select Apache Struts 2 'class' Parameter ClassLoader Manipulation plugin ID 73203.
Specify the target on the Settings tab and click to Save the scan.
Run the scan.

Here are a few examples of how to run the plugin in the command line. Note that the examples below demonstrate the usage on the Linux / Unix platform.

Basic usage:

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl struts_2_3_16_1_classloader_manipulation.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with audit trail message on the console:

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -a struts_2_3_16_1_classloader_manipulation.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with trace script execution written to the console (useful for debugging):

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -T - struts_2_3_16_1_classloader_manipulation.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

Run the plugin with using a state file for the target and updating it (useful for running multiple plugins on the target):

/opt/nessus/bin/nasl -K /tmp/state struts_2_3_16_1_classloader_manipulation.nasl -t <IP/HOST>

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References

BID | SecurityFocus Bugtraq ID:

65999

CERT | Computer Emergency Response Team:

719225

See also:

Similar and related Nessus plugins:

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117393 - Apache Struts 2.x < 2.3.16.2 Multiple Vulnerabilities (S2-020)
81105 - Apache Struts 2.0.0 < 2.3.16.1 Multiple Vulnerabilities (credentialed check) (Deprecated)
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57691 - Apache Struts 2 Multiple Remote Code Execution and File Overwrite Vulnerabilities (safe check) (deprecated)
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Version

This page has been produced using Nessus Professional 10.1.2 (#68) LINUX, Plugin set 202205072148.
Plugin file struts_2_3_16_1_classloader_manipulation.nasl version 1.18. For more plugins, visit the Nessus Plugin Library.

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Apache Struts 2 'class' Parameter ClassLoader Manipulation - Nessus

Plugin Overview

Vulnerability Information

Synopsis

Description

Solution

Public Exploits

Risk Information

Plugin Source

How to Run

References

Version

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