CVE-2015-6524: Activemq broker Improper Input Validation Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-23cr-5hr4-rgwv
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CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2015-6524 is a MODERATE improper input validation vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Activemq broker libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper input validation in apache activemq. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.10.2.

CVE-2015-6524 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2015-6524
GHSA Identifier GHSA-23cr-5hr4-rgwv
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Activemq broker
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2015-6524

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Activemq broker 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.activemq:activemq-broker fixed: 5.10.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.activemq</groupId>
    <artifactId>activemq-broker</artifactId>
    <version>5.10.2</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.activemq:activemq-jaas fixed: 5.10.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.activemq</groupId>
    <artifactId>activemq-jaas</artifactId>
    <version>5.10.2</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.activemq

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2015-6524, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Activemq broker in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 5.10.2), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.activemq 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 Activemq broker, 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 LDAPLoginModule implementation in the Java Authentication and Authorization Service (JAAS) in Apache ActiveMQ 5.x before 5.10.1 allows wildcard operators in usernames, which allows remote attackers to obtain credentials via a brute force attack. NOTE: this identifier was SPLIT from CVE-2014-3612 per ADT2 due to different vulnerability types.

CVE-2015-6524 Affected Activemq broker Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.10.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.activemq:activemq-broker
maven/org.apache.activemq/activemq-broker
Maven
≥ 5.0.0
< 5.10.2
5.10.2
org.apache.activemq:activemq-jaas
maven/org.apache.activemq/activemq-jaas
Maven
≥ 5.0.0
< 5.10.2
5.10.2

References

NVD — CVE-2015-6524 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-6524
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/activemq/commit/22f2f3dde757d31307da772d579815c1d169bc39
Activemq broker Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/activemq
Activemq broker Security Information SECURITY
http://activemq.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2014-3612-announcement.txt
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-October/168094.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-October/168651.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2015-6524?
CVE-2015-6524 is a security vulnerability in Activemq broker involving Improper Input Validation in Apache ActiveMQ under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Activemq broker versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.10.2 across affected packages: org.apache.activemq:activemq-broker, org.apache.activemq:activemq-jaas.
What version fixes CVE-2015-6524?
Upgrading to 5.10.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is activemq-broker affected?
Yes, org.apache.activemq:activemq-broker is affected in releases prior to 5.10.2. Upgrade your dependency to 5.10.2 or later.
Is activemq-jaas affected?
Yes, org.apache.activemq:activemq-jaas is affected in releases prior to 5.10.2. Upgrade your dependency to 5.10.2 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2015-6524?
CVE-2015-6524 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-2015-6524?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.activemq'. 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-23cr-5hr4-rgwv",
  "modified" : "2023-12-20T19:15:58Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T03:22:06Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2015-6524" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Input Validation in Apache ActiveMQ",
  "details" : "The LDAPLoginModule implementation in the Java Authentication and Authorization Service (JAAS) in Apache ActiveMQ 5.x before 5.10.1 allows wildcard operators in usernames, which allows remote attackers to obtain credentials via a brute force attack. NOTE: this identifier was SPLIT from CVE-2014-3612 per ADT2 due to different vulnerability types.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.activemq:activemq-broker"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.10.2"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 5.10.1"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.activemq:activemq-jaas"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.10.2"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 5.10.1"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-6524"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/activemq/commit/22f2f3dde757d31307da772d579815c1d169bc39"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/activemq"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://activemq.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2014-3612-announcement.txt"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-October/168094.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-October/168651.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-06T20:11:13Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2015-08-24T14:59:00Z"
  }
}