Undertow AJP Listener Forged SSL Certificate Authentication Bypass

Executive Summary

This vulnerability in the Undertow AJP listener allows an unauthenticated attacker with direct TCP access to port 8009 to bypass CLIENT-CERT authentication by forging the ssl_cert and is_ssl AJP attributes. The attacker injects a forged X.509 certificate via the AJP protocol without needing shared-secret authentication.

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Detection Guidance

Check if port 8009 is open and accessible from untrusted networks. Use network scanners like nmap to verify if the AJP listener is exposed. Inspect Undertow or JBoss EAP logs for unusual AJP protocol traffic or certificate injection attempts.

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Impact Analysis

An attacker could exploit this to impersonate legitimate users or services, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems protected by CLIENT-CERT authentication. The high CVSS score indicates significant risk to confidentiality and integrity.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to personal or health data, violating GDPR and HIPAA requirements for data protection and access controls. Non-compliance may result in legal penalties and reputational damage.

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Mitigation Strategies

Disable the AJP listener on port 8009 if not required. Apply patches or updates from Red Hat once available. Restrict network access to port 8009 using firewalls. Monitor for unauthorized access attempts or certificate spoofing activities.

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