CVE-2013-4271: Org.restlet Restlet Arbitrary Java Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-f3mv-g3xr-fp7w
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CWE-502
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2013-4271 is a HIGH restlet arbitrary java code execution vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Org.restlet libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves restlet arbitrary java code execution via a serialized object. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.1.4.

CVE-2013-4271 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2013-4271
GHSA Identifier GHSA-f3mv-g3xr-fp7w
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product Org.restlet
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2013-4271

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Org.restlet 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.restlet.jse:org.restlet fixed: 2.1.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.restlet.jse</groupId>
    <artifactId>org.restlet</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.restlet.jse

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2013-4271, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.restlet.jse

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Org.restlet 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.restlet.jse 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-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, where the product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid. In Org.restlet, 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

The default configuration of the ObjectRepresentation class in Restlet before 2.1.4 deserializes objects from untrusted sources, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Java code via a serialized object, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-4221.

CVE-2013-4271 Affected Org.restlet Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.1.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.restlet.jse:org.restlet
maven/org.restlet.jse/org.restlet
Maven
< 2.1.4
2.1.4

References

NVD — CVE-2013-4271 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4271
Org.restlet Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/restlet/restlet-framework-java/issues/778
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=999735
Org.restlet Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/restlet/restlet-framework-java
restlet.org/learn/2.1/changes WEB
http://restlet.org/learn/2.1/changes
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-14... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1410.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-18... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1862.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2013-4271?
CVE-2013-4271 is a security vulnerability in Org.restlet involving Restlet Arbitrary Java Code Execution via a serialized object under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which Org.restlet versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.1.4 across affected packages: org.restlet.jse:org.restlet.
What version fixes CVE-2013-4271?
Upgrading to 2.1.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is org.restlet affected?
Yes, org.restlet.jse:org.restlet is affected in releases prior to 2.1.4. Upgrade your dependency to 2.1.4 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2013-4271?
CVE-2013-4271 is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data (The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2013-4271?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.restlet.jse'. 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-f3mv-g3xr-fp7w",
  "modified" : "2023-08-29T18:02:19Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T03:28:57Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2013-4271" ],
  "summary" : "Restlet Arbitrary Java Code Execution via a serialized object",
  "details" : "The default configuration of the ObjectRepresentation class in Restlet before 2.1.4 deserializes objects from untrusted sources, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Java code via a serialized object, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-4221.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.restlet.jse:org.restlet"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.1.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4271"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/restlet/restlet-framework-java/issues/778"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=999735"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/restlet/restlet-framework-java"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://restlet.org/learn/2.1/changes"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1410.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1862.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-08-29T18:02:19Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2013-10-10T00:55:00Z"
  }
}