Authentication bypass in Apache ActiveMQ

1) Improper Authentication

EUVDB-ID: #VU46680

Risk: High

CVSSv4.0: 8.1 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Amber]

CVE-ID: CVE-2020-11998

CWE-ID: CWE-287 - Improper Authentication

Exploit availability: No

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote client to bypass authentication process.

The vulnerability exists due to an error in authentication process, caused by incorrect implementation of protection measures against JMX re-bind attack. A remote attacker can bypass authentication process by passing an empty environment map to RMIConnectorServer, instead of the map that contains the authentication credentials.As a result, a remote client can create javax.management.loading.MLet MBean and use it to create new MBeans from arbitrary URLs.

Successful exploitation of the vulnerability may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

Mitigation

Install updates from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

ActiveMQ: 5.15.12

CPE2.3

• cpe:2.3:a:apache_foundation:activemq:5.15.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

External links

https://activemq.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2020-11998-announcement.txt

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

How the attacker can exploit this vulnerability?

The attacker would have to send a specially crafted request to the affected application in order to exploit this vulnerability.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.