CVE-2017-9802: Org.apache.sling.servlets.post Improper Neutralization Of Input During Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-8c82-9rgp-4qvr
Share
CVSS 6.1
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-9802 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.1) improper neutralization of input during vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Org.apache.sling.servlets.post libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper neutralization of input during web page generation apache sling servlets post. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.22.

CVE-2017-9802 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-9802
GHSA Identifier GHSA-8c82-9rgp-4qvr
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.1
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Org.apache.sling.servlets.post
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.1

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:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2017-9802

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Org.apache.sling.servlets.post 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.sling:org.apache.sling.servlets.post fixed: 2.3.22 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.sling</groupId>
    <artifactId>org.apache.sling.servlets.post</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.22</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.sling

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2017-9802, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Org.apache.sling.servlets.post in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.3.22), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.sling 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-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Org.apache.sling.servlets.post, 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 Javascript method Sling.evalString() in Apache Sling Servlets Post before 2.3.22 uses the javascript 'eval' function to parse input strings, which allows for XSS attacks by passing specially crafted input strings.

CVE-2017-9802 Affected Org.apache.sling.servlets.post Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.22
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.sling:org.apache.sling.servlets.post
maven/org.apache.sling/org.apache.sling.servlets.post
Maven
< 2.3.22
2.3.22

References

NVD — CVE-2017-9802 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9802
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/sling-7... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/SLING-7041
lists.apache.org/thread.html/2f4b833... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/2f4b8333e44c6e7e0b00933bd4204ce64829952f60dbb6814f2cdf91@%3Cdev.sling.apache.org%3E
Org.apache.sling.servlets.post Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/143758/Apache-Sling-Servlets-Post-2.3.20-Cross-Site-Scripting.html
Org.apache.sling.servlets.post Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/541024/100/0/threaded
Org.apache.sling.servlets.post Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100284

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-9802?
CVE-2017-9802 is a security vulnerability in Org.apache.sling.servlets.post involving Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Apache Sling Servlets Post under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Org.apache.sling.servlets.post versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.22 across affected packages: org.apache.sling:org.apache.sling.servlets.post.
What version fixes CVE-2017-9802?
Upgrading to 2.3.22 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is org.apache.sling.servlets.post affected?
Yes, org.apache.sling:org.apache.sling.servlets.post is affected in releases prior to 2.3.22. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.22 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-9802?
CVE-2017-9802 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-9802?
CVE-2017-9802 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2017-9802?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.sling'. 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-8c82-9rgp-4qvr",
  "modified" : "2022-06-30T19:49:41Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T02:45:32Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-9802" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Apache Sling Servlets Post",
  "details" : "The Javascript method Sling.evalString() in Apache Sling Servlets Post before 2.3.22 uses the javascript 'eval' function to parse input strings, which allows for XSS attacks by passing specially crafted input strings.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.sling:org.apache.sling.servlets.post"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.22"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9802"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/SLING-7041"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/2f4b8333e44c6e7e0b00933bd4204ce64829952f60dbb6814f2cdf91@%3Cdev.sling.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/143758/Apache-Sling-Servlets-Post-2.3.20-Cross-Site-Scripting.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/541024/100/0/threaded"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100284"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-06-30T19:49:41Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-08-14T13:29:00Z"
  }
}