CVE-2008-5518: Console Path Traversal Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-xm92-rf24-h74w
CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2008-5518 is a HIGH path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Console libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache geronimo application server multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.1.4.

CVE-2008-5518 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2008-5518
GHSA Identifier GHSA-xm92-rf24-h74w
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Affected Product Console
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2008-5518

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Console 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.geronimo.plugins:console fixed: 2.1.4
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.geronimo.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>console</artifactId>
    <version>2.1.4</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.geronimo.plugins

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2008-5518, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.geronimo.plugins

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Console in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.1.4), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.geronimo.plugins 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-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. In Console, 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

Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in the web administration console in Apache Geronimo Application Server 2.1 through 2.1.3 on Windows allow remote attackers to upload files to arbitrary directories via directory traversal sequences in the (1) group, (2) artifact, (3) version, or (4) fileType parameter to console/portal//Services/Repository (aka the Services/Repository portlet); the (5) createDB parameter to console/portal/Embedded DB/DB Manager (aka the Embedded DB/DB Manager portlet); or the (6) filename parameter to the createKeystore script in the Security/Keystores portlet.

CVE-2008-5518 Affected Console Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.1.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.geronimo.plugins:console
Maven
≥ 2.1.0
< 2.1.4
2.1.4

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2008-5518?
CVE-2008-5518 is a security vulnerability in Console involving Apache Geronimo Application Server multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal').
Which Console versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.1.4 across affected packages: org.apache.geronimo.plugins:console.
What version fixes CVE-2008-5518?
Upgrading to 2.1.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is console affected?
Yes, org.apache.geronimo.plugins:console is affected in releases prior to 2.1.4. Upgrade your dependency to 2.1.4 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2008-5518?
CVE-2008-5518 is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') (The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2008-5518?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.geronimo.plugins'. 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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-xm92-rf24-h74w",
  "modified" : "2024-02-26T22:14:31Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T02:40:10Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2008-5518" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Geronimo Application Server multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities",
  "details" : "Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in the web administration console in Apache Geronimo Application Server 2.1 through 2.1.3 on Windows allow remote attackers to upload files to arbitrary directories via directory traversal sequences in the (1) group, (2) artifact, (3) version, or (4) fileType parameter to console/portal//Services/Repository (aka the Services/Repository portlet); the (5) createDB parameter to console/portal/Embedded DB/DB Manager (aka the Embedded DB/DB Manager portlet); or the (6) filename parameter to the createKeystore script in the Security/Keystores portlet.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.geronimo.plugins:console"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.1.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.1.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5518"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/geronimo/commit/aa0c2c26dde8930cad924796af7c17a13d236b16"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/49898"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/49899"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/49900"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/geronimo"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20090419162753/http://secunia.com/advisories/34715"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20090422192030/http://dsecrg.com/pages/vul/show.php?id=118"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20200229223125/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/34562"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/8458"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://geronimo.apache.org/21x-security-report.html#2.1.xSecurityReport-214"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/GERONIMO-4597"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-02-26T22:14:31Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2009-04-17T14:30:00Z"
  }
}