CVE-2018-12532: Richfaces core RichFaces Vulnerable To Expression Language Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-3hx6-fqpj-xfjr
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-917
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2018-12532 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) richfaces vulnerable to expression language vulnerability (CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection')) affecting Richfaces core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves richfaces vulnerable to expression language injection. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2018-12532 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2018-12532
GHSA Identifier GHSA-3hx6-fqpj-xfjr
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection')
Affected Product Richfaces core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

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:H/I:H/A:H).

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 High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2018-12532

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Richfaces core 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.richfaces:richfaces-core fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.richfaces</groupId>
    <artifactId>richfaces-core</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</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.richfaces

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2018-12532, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.richfaces

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

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.richfaces 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-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an expression language (el) statement in a framework such as a java server page (jsp) using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended el statement before it is executed. In Richfaces core, 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

JBoss RichFaces 4.5.3 through 4.5.17 allows unauthenticated remote attackers to inject an arbitrary expression language (EL) variable mapper and execute arbitrary Java code via a MediaOutputResource's resource request, aka RF-14309.

CVE-2018-12532 Affected Richfaces core Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.richfaces:richfaces-core
maven/org.richfaces/richfaces-core
Maven
≥ 4.5.3.Final
≤ 4.5.17.Final

References

NVD — CVE-2018-12532 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12532
codewhitesec.blogspot.com/2018/05/poor-richfa... WEB
https://codewhitesec.blogspot.com/2018/05/poor-richfaces.html
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020... WEB
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Mar/21

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-12532?
CVE-2018-12532 is a security vulnerability in Richfaces core involving RichFaces vulnerable to Expression Language Injection under CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection').
Which Richfaces core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: org.richfaces:richfaces-core.
What version fixes CVE-2018-12532?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is richfaces-core affected?
Yes, org.richfaces:richfaces-core is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2018-12532?
CVE-2018-12532 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2018-12532?
CVE-2018-12532 is classified under CWE-917: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an expression language (EL) statement in a framework such as a Java Server Page (JSP) using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended EL statement before it is executed.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2018-12532?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.richfaces'. 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-3hx6-fqpj-xfjr",
  "modified" : "2022-11-08T12:55:35Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:19:02Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2018-12532" ],
  "summary" : "RichFaces vulnerable to Expression Language Injection",
  "details" : "JBoss RichFaces 4.5.3 through 4.5.17 allows unauthenticated remote attackers to inject an arbitrary expression language (EL) variable mapper and execute arbitrary Java code via a MediaOutputResource's resource request, aka RF-14309.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.richfaces:richfaces-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.5.3.Final"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "4.5.17.Final"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12532"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://codewhitesec.blogspot.com/2018/05/poor-richfaces.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Mar/21"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-917" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-11-08T12:55:35Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2018-06-18T12:29:00Z"
  }
}