Apache Archiva: reflected XSS

Vulnerability

Overview

CVE-2024-27140 describes a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Apache Archiva, a build artifact repository manager that has been retired. The issue stems from improper neutralization of user input during web page generation, allowing an attacker to inject malicious scripts into web pages served by the application [1].

Exploitation

Prerequisites

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must trick a user into clicking a crafted URL containing malicious characters. The XSS is reflected, meaning the injected script is immediately executed in the victim's browser without persistent storage on the server. No authentication is required to trigger the XSS, though the attacker must deliver the malicious link to a user who has access to an Archiva instance [2].

Potential

Impact

Successful exploitation enables an attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the victim's session with the Archiva server. This can lead to theft of session cookies, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites, effectively compromising the confidentiality and integrity of the user's interaction with the Archiva instance [1][2].

Mitigation

Status

Since Apache Archiva has been retired and moved to the Apache Attic, no patch will be released [3][4]. The project maintainers recommend users either migrate to an alternative solution or restrict access to trusted users. As a workaround, administrators can configure a reverse HTTP proxy to filter out malicious characters from incoming requests, reducing the attack surface [1][2].