CVE-2024-36401

Published Jul 1, 2024

Last updated 4 days ago

GeoServer

Overview

AI description

Automated description summarized from trusted sources.

CVE-2024-36401 is a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability affecting GeoServer, an open-source software server that allows users to share and edit geospatial data. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to 2.22.6, 2.23.6, 2.24.4, and 2.25.2. It stems from the unsafe evaluation of property names as XPath expressions within the GeoTools library API, which GeoServer uses. This API incorrectly passes property/attribute names to the commons-jxpath library, potentially allowing the execution of arbitrary code. The vulnerability can be exploited through multiple Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) request parameters, including WFS GetFeature, WFS GetPropertyValue, WMS GetMap, WMS GetFeatureInfo, WMS GetLegendGraphic, and WPS Execute. It is applicable to all GeoServer instances because the flawed XPath evaluation, intended for complex feature types, is mistakenly applied to simple feature types as well. A patch is available in versions 2.22.6, 2.23.6, 2.24.4, and 2.25.2. A workaround involves removing the `gt-complex-x.y.jar` file from the GeoServer installation, although this may break some GeoServer functionality.

Description: GeoServer is an open source server that allows users to share and edit geospatial data. Prior to versions 2.22.6, 2.23.6, 2.24.4, and 2.25.2, multiple OGC request parameters allow Remote Code Execution (RCE) by unauthenticated users through specially crafted input against a default GeoServer installation due to unsafely evaluating property names as XPath expressions. The GeoTools library API that GeoServer calls evaluates property/attribute names for feature types in a way that unsafely passes them to the commons-jxpath library which can execute arbitrary code when evaluating XPath expressions. This XPath evaluation is intended to be used only by complex feature types (i.e., Application Schema data stores) but is incorrectly being applied to simple feature types as well which makes this vulnerability apply to **ALL** GeoServer instances. No public PoC is provided but this vulnerability has been confirmed to be exploitable through WFS GetFeature, WFS GetPropertyValue, WMS GetMap, WMS GetFeatureInfo, WMS GetLegendGraphic and WPS Execute requests. This vulnerability can lead to executing arbitrary code. Versions 2.22.6, 2.23.6, 2.24.4, and 2.25.2 contain a patch for the issue. A workaround exists by removing the `gt-complex-x.y.jar` file from the GeoServer where `x.y` is the GeoTools version (e.g., `gt-complex-31.1.jar` if running GeoServer 2.25.1). This will remove the vulnerable code from GeoServer but may break some GeoServer functionality or prevent GeoServer from deploying if the gt-complex module is needed.
Source: security-advisories@github.com
NVD status: Analyzed
Products: geoserver, geotools

Risk scores

CVSS 3.1

Type: Primary
Base score: 9.8
Impact score: 5.9
Exploitability score: 3.9
Vector string: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Severity: CRITICAL

Known exploits

Data from CISA

Vulnerability name: OSGeo GeoServer GeoTools Eval Injection Vulnerability
Exploit added on: Jul 15, 2024
Exploit action due: Aug 5, 2024
Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Weaknesses

security-advisories@github.com: CWE-95
nvd@nist.gov: CWE-94

Hype score: Not currently trending

Configurations

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  {
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      {
        "negate": false,
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          },
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          },
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          },
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          },
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            "vulnerable": true,
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            "matchCriteriaId": "CCE433A3-886D-4CBB-9696-660F517FBFEE"
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          },
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            "vulnerable": true,
            "matchCriteriaId": "75B1DF89-EFC1-4F5A-881E-495AE00E820B"
          },
          {
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            "vulnerable": true,
            "matchCriteriaId": "72752A30-52B9-4E95-90F8-A807618B5313"
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        ],
        "operator": "OR"
      }
    ]
  }
]

References

Sources include official advisories and independent security research.