CVE-2016-8750: Apache karaf Apache-karaf Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-chj8-5xgw-wcvj
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CVSS 6.5
CWE-90
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-8750 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) apache-karaf vulnerability (CWE-90: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an LDAP Query ('LDAP Injection')) affecting Apache karaf libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache-karaf. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.0.8.

CVE-2016-8750 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-8750
GHSA Identifier GHSA-chj8-5xgw-wcvj
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-90: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an LDAP Query ('LDAP Injection')
Affected Product Apache karaf
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2016-8750

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Apache karaf dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.apache.karaf:apache-karaf fixed: 4.0.8 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.karaf</groupId>
    <artifactId>apache-karaf</artifactId>
    <version>4.0.8</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.karaf

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2016-8750, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.karaf

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apache karaf in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.0.8), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.karaf command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-90: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an LDAP Query ('LDAP Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an ldap query using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended ldap query when it is sent to a downstream component. In Apache karaf, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Apache Karaf prior to 4.0.8 used the LDAPLoginModule to authenticate users to a directory via LDAP. However, it did not encoding usernames properly and hence was vulnerable to LDAP injection attacks leading to a denial of service.

CVE-2016-8750 Affected Apache karaf Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.0.8
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.karaf:apache-karaf
maven/org.apache.karaf/apache-karaf
Maven
< 4.0.8
4.0.8

References

NVD — CVE-2016-8750 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8750
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2018:13... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1322
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-chj8-5xgw-wcvj
Apache karaf Security Information SECURITY
https://karaf.apache.org/security/cve-2016-8750.txt
Apache karaf Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103098

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-8750?
CVE-2016-8750 is a security vulnerability in Apache karaf involving apache-karaf under CWE-90: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an LDAP Query ('LDAP Injection').
Which Apache karaf versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.0.8 across affected packages: org.apache.karaf:apache-karaf.
What version fixes CVE-2016-8750?
Upgrading to 4.0.8 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is apache-karaf affected?
Yes, org.apache.karaf:apache-karaf is affected in releases prior to 4.0.8. Upgrade your dependency to 4.0.8 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-8750?
CVE-2016-8750 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-8750?
CVE-2016-8750 is classified under CWE-90: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an LDAP Query ('LDAP Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an LDAP query using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended LDAP query when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2016-8750?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.karaf'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-chj8-5xgw-wcvj",
  "modified" : "2021-09-09T18:04:45Z",
  "published" : "2019-01-07T19:14:46Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-8750" ],
  "summary" : "Moderate severity vulnerability that affects org.apache.karaf:apache-karaf",
  "details" : "Apache Karaf prior to 4.0.8 used the LDAPLoginModule to authenticate users to a directory via LDAP. However, it did not encoding usernames properly and hence was vulnerable to LDAP injection attacks leading to a denial of service.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.karaf:apache-karaf"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.0.8"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8750"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:1322"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-chj8-5xgw-wcvj"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://karaf.apache.org/security/cve-2016-8750.txt"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103098"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-90" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:31:46Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}