CVE-2022-45470 - Unsupported Apache Hama Vulnerability May Cause Information Disclosure Through Path Traversal and XSS Exploits

With the assignment of CVE-2022-45470, security researchers have identified a critical vulnerability in Apache Hama, an open-source framework for large-scale parallel processing. Specifically, the vulnerability stems from missing input validation, which may lead to information disclosure through path traversal and Cross-site Scripting (XSS) attacks. Since Apache Hama has reached its End-Of-Life (EOL), no patches or fixes can be expected from the developers. This presents a challenge for users of the software, who will need to take extra precautions to mitigate any potential risks posed by the vulnerability.

Consider the following vulnerable code in Apache Hama

String filename = request.getParameter("file");
File file = new File(filePath + filename);

if (file.isFile()) {
    response.setContentType("application/octet-stream");
    response.setHeader("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=\"" + file.getName() + "\"");
    Files.copy(file.toPath(), response.getOutputStream());
}

The code above gets a file name from the request object and uses it to open a file. This file is then sent back to the user as a download. The vulnerability arises because the code does not validate the filename parameter, potentially enabling path traversal and XSS attacks.

Path Traversal

An attacker could manipulate the file parameter to include malicious path segments, such as "../" or "../../../../". This would allow the attacker to break out of the intended file directory and access sensitive files on the server. For example, the following request might traverse the directories to access the /etc/passwd file:

http://example.com/download?file=../../../../etc/passwd

Cross-site Scripting (XSS)

Similarly, an attacker might be able to inject malicious JavaScript code into the vulnerable application by crafting a request with a special file parameter. For example:

http://example.com/download?file="><script>alert('XSS')</script>;

If an unsuspecting user clicks on the link, the injected JavaScript code would execute in their browser, potentially allowing the attacker to steal cookies or perform other malicious actions.

Original References

- CVE Details
- CVE on MITRE Website

Mitigation

Given that Apache Hama is no longer supported, users are strongly encouraged to migrate to alternative, actively maintained parallel processing frameworks to avoid potential security risks. Possible alternatives include Apache Hadoop, Apache Flink, and Apache Spark.

Additionally, organizations should implement robust security measures, such as input validation, output encoding, and least privilege access control, to reduce the likelihood of successful exploits arising from vulnerabilities like CVE-2022-45470.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-45470 highlights the importance of input validation and secure software development practices in preventing information disclosure. As Apache Hama is EOL, users are urged to seek alternative parallel processing frameworks and adopt best security practices to protect their systems and data from potential exploits.

Timeline

Published on: 11/21/2022 16:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 03/13/2023 11:15:00 UTC