CRV2 FrameworkSpecIssuesStruts

Apache Structs 2 is an open-source web application framework for Java EE web applications. Today most development that uses Structs is using the newest version Sructs 2. Structs web framework has reached its end of life and is no longer officially supported. The Struts framework acts as a façade for Java applications, providing a framework to divide the code of an application into the Model, View and Controller components defined in the MVC pattern.

Apache Struts 2 doesn't provide any security mechanism - it is just a pure web framework.

• Keep Up to date on Releases. Code Reviewer needs to understand what version of Structs is being used. Lastest version of Structs at the time of writing this book was Apache Struts 2.3.16.3 GA.

• Restrict access to the Config Browser Config Browser Plugin exposes internal configuration and should be used only during development phase.

• Don't mix different access levels in the same namespace You cannot mix actions with different security levels in the same namespace. Always group actions in one namespace by security level.

<security-constraint>
   <web-resource-collection>
       <web-resource-name>admin</web-resource-name>
       <url-pattern>/secure/*</url-pattern>
   </web-resource-collection>
   <auth-constraint>
       <role-name>admin</role-name>
   </auth-constraint>
</security-constraint>

• Code reviewer to be aware and keep up to date on for all third party software. Apache open source code is very good at being open and transparent on all security issues. Current security bulletins can be found at. http://struts.apache.org/release/2.3.x/docs/security-bulletins.html

A list of Current security.

S2-001 Critical – Remote exploit on form validation error.

S2-002 Important – Cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerability on and tags.

S2-003 Critical - XWork ParameterInerceptors bypass allows OGNL statement execution.

S2-004 Important - Directory traversal vulnerability while serving static content.

S2-005 Critical - XWork ParameterInterceptors bypass allows remote command execution.

S2-006 Important - Multiple Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in XWork generated error pages.

S2-007 Important - User input is evaluated as an OGNL expression when there's a conversion error.

S2-008 Critical - Multiple critical vulnerabilities in Struts2.

S2-009 Critical - ParameterInterceptor vulnerability allows remote command execution.

S2-010 Moderate- When using Struts 2 token mechanism for CSRF protection, token check may be bypassed by misusing known session attributes.

S2-011 Important - Long request parameter names might significantly promote the effectiveness of DOS attacks.

S2-012 Moderately Critical - Showcase app vulnerability allows remote command execution.

S2-013 High Critical - A vulnerability, present in the includeParams attribute of the URL and Anchor Tag, allows remote command execution.

S2-014 Highly Critical - A vulnerability introduced by forcing parameter inclusion in the URL and Anchor Tag allows remote command execution, session access and manipulation and XSS attacks.

S2-015 Highly Critical - A vulnerability introduced by wildcard matching mechanism or double evaluation of OGNL Expression allows remote command execution.

S2-016 Highly Critical - A vulnerability introduced by manipulating parameters prefixed with "action:"/"redirect:"/"redirectAction:" allows remote command execution.

S2-017 Important - A vulnerability introduced by manipulating parameters prefixed with "redirect:"/"redirectAction:" allows for open redirects.

S2-018 Important - Broken Access Control Vulnerability in Apache Struts2.

S2-019 Important - Dynamic Method Invocation disabled by default.

S2-020 Important - Upgrade Commons FileUpload to version 1.3.1 (avoids DoS attacks) and adds 'class' to exclude params in ParametersInterceptor (avoid ClassLoader manipulation).

S2-021 High - Improves excluded params in ParametersInterceptor and CookieInterceptor to avoid ClassLoader manipulation.

S2-022 Medium - Extends excluded params in CookieInterceptor to avoid manipulation of Struts' internals.