CVE-2020-11980
mediumpriority · track · 26EPSS 0.019 · 79 %ileEUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
In Karaf, JMX authentication takes place using JAAS and authorization takes place using ACL files. By default, only an "admin" can actually invoke on an MBean. However there is a vulnerability there for someone who is not an admin, but has a "viewer" role. In the 'etc/jmx.acl.cfg', such as role can call get*. It's possible to authenticate as a viewer role + invokes on the MLet getMBeansFromURL method, which goes off to a remote server to fetch the desired MBean, which is then registered in Karaf. At this point the attack fails as "viewer" doesn't have the permission to invoke on the MBean. Still, it could act as a SSRF style attack and also it essentially allows a "viewer" role to pollute the MBean registry, which is a kind of privilege escalation. The vulnerability is low as it's possible to add a ACL to limit access. Users should update to Apache Karaf 4.2.9 or newer.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (3)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
- Maven org.apache.karaf.management:org.apache.karaf.management.server< 4.2.9osvUSpkg:maven/org.apache.karaf.management/org.apache.karaf.management.server
advisories (1)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- GHSA-9jg9-6wm2-x7p5Server-Side Request Forgery in Karaf2022-02-10ghsa · osvUS
In Karaf, JMX authentication takes place using JAAS and authorization takes place using ACL files. By default, only an "admin" can actually invoke on an MBean. However there is a vulnerability there for someone who is not an admin, but has a "viewer" role. In the 'etc/jmx.acl.cfg', such as role can call get*. It's possible to authenticate as a viewer role + invokes on the MLet getMBeansFromURL method, which goes off to a remote server to fetch the desired MBean, which is then registered in Karaf. At this point the attack fails as "viewer" doesn't have the permission to invoke on the MBean. Still, it could act as a SSRF style attack and also it essentially allows a "viewer" role to pollute the MBean registry, which is a kind of privilege escalation. The vulnerability is low as it's possible to add a ACL to limit access. Users should update to Apache Karaf 4.2.9 or newer.
also known as (3)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (6)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- http://karaf.apache.org/security/cve-2020-11980.txtcnnvd
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11980cnnvd
- https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160562/Red-Hat-Security-Advisory-2020-5568-01.htmlcnnvd
- https://www.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2020.4464/cnnvd
- http://karaf.apache.org/security/cve-2020-11980.txtenisa_euvd
- http://karaf.apache.org/security/cve-2020-11980.txtVendor Advisorynvd
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