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Use of software with known vulnerabilities in environments

Need​

Regular patching and updating of software and dependencies to address known vulnerabilities

Context​

  • Usage of Java 8 for developing applications with enhanced features and performance improvements
  • Usage of javax.servlet-api for building Java web applications with Servlets

Description​

Non compliant code​

import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;
import javax.servlet.ServletException;
import java.io.IOException;

public class VulnerableServlet extends javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet {

    protected void doPost(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
        // Your code here
    }

    protected void doGet(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
        // Your code here
    }
}

The above Java code represents a Servlet that is using the javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet class, which is part of the javax.servlet library. The Servlet is designed to handle HTTP requests and responses.

The vulnerability in this code lies in the use of a potentially outdated or vulnerable version of the javax.servlet library. If the library version being used has known vulnerabilities, it exposes the entire application to potential attacks.

For example, an attacker could exploit a known vulnerability in the library to perform malicious actions such as unauthorized access to sensitive data, denial of service, or remote code execution.

The Servlet handles doPost and doGet requests, which are entry points to the application. If the javax.servlet library has vulnerabilities and these are exploited, an attacker could potentially influence the behavior of these methods and compromise the security of the application.

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended to always use the latest and most secure version of libraries and dependencies in your application. Regularly updating your software and dependencies helps to ensure that you are protected against known vulnerabilities.

Steps​

  • Identify the software or dependency used in the code
  • Check for any known vulnerabilities associated with the software or dependency
  • Update the software or dependency to the latest version that does not have any known vulnerabilities
  • Ensure that the updated software or dependency is compatible with the existing code
  • Test the code thoroughly to ensure that it functions correctly with the updated software or dependency

Compliant code​

import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;
import javax.servlet.ServletException;
import java.io.IOException;

public class FixedServlet extends javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet {

    protected void doPost(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
        // Your code here
    }

    protected void doGet(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
        // Your code here
    }
}

The original code was using a version of a software or dependency with known vulnerabilities. This is a common security issue where the system uses outdated or vulnerable versions of libraries or frameworks.

To fix this issue, we first identified the software or dependency used in the code. In this case, it was the javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet class from the Java Servlet API.

Next, we checked for any known vulnerabilities associated with this software or dependency. This can be done by searching in vulnerability databases or using automated tools.

After identifying the vulnerabilities, we updated the software or dependency to the latest version that does not have any known vulnerabilities. This is done by updating the version of the Java Servlet API used in the project.

We then ensured that the updated software or dependency is compatible with the existing code. This involved checking the API documentation and testing the code to ensure that it still works as expected.

Finally, we tested the code thoroughly to ensure that it functions correctly with the updated software or dependency. This involved running unit tests, integration tests, and manual tests.

By following these steps, we were able to fix the vulnerability in the code. The updated code now uses a secure version of the software or dependency, reducing the risk of security issues.

References​

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