CVE-2011-4461: Jetty server Improper Input Validation Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qxp4-27vx-xmm3
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CVSS 5.3
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2011-4461 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) improper input validation vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Jetty server libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper input validation in jetty. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 8.1.0.RC4.

CVE-2011-4461 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2011-4461
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qxp4-27vx-xmm3
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Jetty server
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2011-4461

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Jetty server 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.eclipse.jetty:jetty-server fixed: 8.1.0.RC4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.eclipse.jetty</groupId>
    <artifactId>jetty-server</artifactId>
    <version>8.1.0.RC4</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.eclipse.jetty

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2011-4461, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.eclipse.jetty

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Jetty server in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 8.1.0.RC4), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.eclipse.jetty 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Jetty server, 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

Jetty 8.1.0.RC2 and earlier computes hash values for form parameters without restricting the ability to trigger hash collisions predictably, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) by sending many crafted parameters.

CVE-2011-4461 Affected Jetty server Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
8.1.0.RC4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.eclipse.jetty:jetty-server
maven/org.eclipse.jetty/jetty-server
Maven
< 8.1.0.RC4
8.1.0.RC4

References

NVD — CVE-2011-4461 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4461
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/eclipse/jetty.project/commit/085c79d7d6cfbccc02821ffdb64968593df3e0bf
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/720... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/72017
Jetty server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/eclipse/jetty.project
Jetty server Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190307-0004
marc.info/ WEB
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=143387688830075&w=2
www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/903934 WEB
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/903934
www.ocert.org/advisories/ocert-20... WEB
http://www.ocert.org/advisories/ocert-2011-003.html
Jetty server Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2016v3-2985753.html
Jetty server Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html
Jetty server Security Information SECURITY
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpujan2015-1972971.html
www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1429-1 WEB
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1429-1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2011-4461?
CVE-2011-4461 is a security vulnerability in Jetty server involving Improper Input Validation in Jetty under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Jetty server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 8.1.0.RC4 across affected packages: org.eclipse.jetty:jetty-server.
What version fixes CVE-2011-4461?
Upgrading to 8.1.0.RC4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is jetty-server affected?
Yes, org.eclipse.jetty:jetty-server is affected in releases prior to 8.1.0.RC4. Upgrade your dependency to 8.1.0.RC4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2011-4461?
CVE-2011-4461 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2011-4461?
CVE-2011-4461 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2011-4461?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.eclipse.jetty'. 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-qxp4-27vx-xmm3",
  "modified" : "2024-04-19T19:00:13Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T01:27:35Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2011-4461" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Input Validation in Jetty",
  "details" : "Jetty 8.1.0.RC2 and earlier computes hash values for form parameters without restricting the ability to trigger hash collisions predictably, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) by sending many crafted parameters.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.eclipse.jetty:jetty-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "8.1.0.RC4"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 8.1.0.RC2"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4461"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/eclipse/jetty.project/commit/085c79d7d6cfbccc02821ffdb64968593df3e0bf"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/72017"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/eclipse/jetty.project"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190307-0004"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=143387688830075&w=2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/903934"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.ocert.org/advisories/ocert-2011-003.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2016v3-2985753.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpujan2015-1972971.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1429-1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-13T18:07:02Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2011-12-30T01:55:00Z"
  }
}