CVE-2018-11798: Libthrift Apache Thrift Node.js Static Web Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-vx85-mj8c-4qm6
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CVSS 6.5
CWE-538
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2018-11798 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) apache thrift node.js static web vulnerability (CWE-538: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory) affecting Libthrift libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache thrift node.js static web server sandbox escape. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 0.12.0.

CVE-2018-11798 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2018-11798
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vx85-mj8c-4qm6
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-538: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory
Affected Product Libthrift
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2018-11798

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Libthrift 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.thrift:libthrift fixed: 0.12.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.thrift</groupId>
    <artifactId>libthrift</artifactId>
    <version>0.12.0</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.thrift

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2018-11798, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Libthrift in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 0.12.0), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.thrift 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-538: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory, where the product places sensitive information into files or directories that are accessible to actors who are allowed to have access to the files, but not to the sensitive information. In Libthrift, 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 Apache Thrift Node.js static web server in versions 0.9.2 through 0.11.0 have been determined to contain a security vulnerability in which a remote user has the ability to access files outside the set webservers docroot path.

CVE-2018-11798 Affected Libthrift Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
0.12.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.thrift:libthrift
maven/org.apache.thrift/libthrift
Maven
≥ 0.9.2
< 0.12.0
0.12.0

References

NVD — CVE-2018-11798 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-11798
Libthrift Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/thrift/pull/1606
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/thrift/commit/2a2b72f6c8aef200ecee4984f011e06052288ff2
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2019:15... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:1545
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2019:31... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3140
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-vx85-mj8c-4qm6
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/thrift-... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/THRIFT-4647
lists.apache.org/thread.html/6e9edd2... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/6e9edd282684896cedf615fb67a02bebfe6007f2d5baf03ba52e34fd@%3Cuser.thrift.apache.org%3E
Libthrift Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20200227094236/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106501
Libthrift Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2019-5072832.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-11798?
CVE-2018-11798 is a security vulnerability in Libthrift involving Apache Thrift Node.js static web server sandbox escape under CWE-538: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory.
Which Libthrift versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 0.12.0 across affected packages: org.apache.thrift:libthrift.
What version fixes CVE-2018-11798?
Upgrading to 0.12.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is libthrift affected?
Yes, org.apache.thrift:libthrift is affected in releases prior to 0.12.0. Upgrade your dependency to 0.12.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2018-11798?
CVE-2018-11798 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2018-11798?
CVE-2018-11798 is classified under CWE-538: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory (The product places sensitive information into files or directories that are accessible to actors who are allowed to have access to the files, but not to the sensitive information.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2018-11798?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.thrift'. 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-vx85-mj8c-4qm6",
  "modified" : "2023-09-11T18:30:27Z",
  "published" : "2019-01-17T13:56:33Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2018-11798" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Thrift Node.js static web server sandbox escape",
  "details" : "The Apache Thrift Node.js static web server in versions 0.9.2 through 0.11.0 have been determined to contain a security vulnerability in which a remote user has the ability to access files outside the set webservers docroot path.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.thrift:libthrift"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0.9.2"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "0.12.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-11798"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/thrift/pull/1606"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/thrift/commit/2a2b72f6c8aef200ecee4984f011e06052288ff2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:1545"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3140"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-vx85-mj8c-4qm6"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/THRIFT-4647"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/6e9edd282684896cedf615fb67a02bebfe6007f2d5baf03ba52e34fd@%3Cuser.thrift.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20200227094236/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106501"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2019-5072832.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-538" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:58:46Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}