Vulnerabilities in pkg:maven/org.apache.flex.blazeds/flex-messaging-core

PACKAGE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-w8v7-prhw-xjpw
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Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-5641 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) apache flex blazeds unsafe deserialization vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Flex messaging core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache flex blazeds unsafe deserialization. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.7.3.

1 Known Advisory Record(s)
Package Vulnerability Intelligence

pkg:maven/org.apache.flex.blazeds/flex-messaging-core

1 Known Advisory Record(s)

Vulnerability advisories affecting package pkg:maven/org.apache.flex.blazeds/flex-messaging-core. Select an advisory below to view technical details or fixes.

Advisory ID CVE / NVD Severity Summary
GHSA-w8v7-prhw-xjpw CVE-2017-5641 CRITICAL Apache Flex BlazeDS unsafe deserialization

CVE-2017-5641 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-5641
GHSA Identifier GHSA-w8v7-prhw-xjpw
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product Flex messaging 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:3.1/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-2017-5641

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Flex messaging 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.apache.flex.blazeds:flex-messaging-core fixed: 4.7.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.flex.blazeds</groupId>
    <artifactId>flex-messaging-core</artifactId>
    <version>4.7.3</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.flex.blazeds:flex-messaging-remoting fixed: 4.7.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.flex.blazeds</groupId>
    <artifactId>flex-messaging-remoting</artifactId>
    <version>4.7.3</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.flex.blazeds

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2017-5641, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.flex.blazeds

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Flex messaging core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.7.3), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.flex.blazeds 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 Flex messaging 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

Previous versions of Apache Flex BlazeDS (4.7.2 and earlier) did not restrict which types were allowed for AMF(X) object deserialization by default. During the deserialization process code is executed that for several known types has undesired side-effects. Other, unknown types may also exhibit such behaviors. One vector in the Java standard library exists that allows an attacker to trigger possibly further exploitable Java deserialization of untrusted data. Other known vectors in third party libraries can be used to trigger remote code execution.

CVE-2017-5641 Affected Flex messaging core Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.7.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.flex.blazeds:flex-messaging-core
maven/org.apache.flex.blazeds/flex-messaging-core
Maven
< 4.7.3
4.7.3
org.apache.flex.blazeds:flex-messaging-remoting
maven/org.apache.flex.blazeds/flex-messaging-remoting
Maven
< 4.7.3
4.7.3

References

NVD — CVE-2017-5641 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5641
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/flex-blazeds/commit/11b0aa132d9a43bf81fa12654ff227ff247b4627
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/flex-blazeds/commit/f861f0993c35e664906609cad275e45a71e2aaf1
Flex messaging core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/flex-blazeds
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/flex-35... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/FLEX-35290
support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/dis... WEB
https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03823en_us
Flex messaging core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20170920093830/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038273
Flex messaging core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20210124021605/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97383
www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/307983 WEB
https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/307983
www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/zdi-22-5... WEB
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-22-506
www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/zdi-22-5... WEB
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-22-507
mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/flex-dev/2... WEB
http://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/flex-dev/201703.mbox/%3C6B86C8D0-6E36-48F5-AC81-4AB3978F6746@c-ware.de%3E

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-5641?
CVE-2017-5641 is a security vulnerability in Flex messaging core involving Apache Flex BlazeDS unsafe deserialization under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which Flex messaging core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.7.3 across affected packages: org.apache.flex.blazeds:flex-messaging-core, org.apache.flex.blazeds:flex-messaging-remoting.
What version fixes CVE-2017-5641?
Upgrading to 4.7.3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is flex-messaging-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.flex.blazeds:flex-messaging-core is affected in releases prior to 4.7.3. Upgrade your dependency to 4.7.3 or later.
Is flex-messaging-remoting affected?
Yes, org.apache.flex.blazeds:flex-messaging-remoting is affected in releases prior to 4.7.3. Upgrade your dependency to 4.7.3 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-5641?
CVE-2017-5641 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-5641?
CVE-2017-5641 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-2017-5641?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.flex.blazeds'. 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 
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  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-w8v7-prhw-xjpw",
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  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:02:10Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-5641" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Flex BlazeDS unsafe deserialization",
  "details" : "Previous versions of Apache Flex BlazeDS (4.7.2 and earlier) did not restrict which types were allowed for AMF(X) object deserialization by default. During the deserialization process code is executed that for several known types has undesired side-effects. Other, unknown types may also exhibit such behaviors. One vector in the Java standard library exists that allows an attacker to trigger possibly further exploitable Java deserialization of untrusted data. Other known vectors in third party libraries can be used to trigger remote code execution.",
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    "url" : "https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/307983"
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    "type" : "WEB",
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  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
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    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-07-25T21:59:21Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-12-28T15:29:00Z"
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}