Red Hat RichFaces 3.X Expression Language (EL) Injection and Remote Code Execution (RCE) Vulnerability (CVE-2018-14667)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTAll Java-based web applications utilizing RichFaces Framework versions 3.0.0 through 3.3.4.
A remote, unauthenticated attacker can execute arbitrary system commands and fully compromise the host by sending a crafted chain of serialized Java objects.
Migrate legacy RichFaces 3.X applications to supported frameworks, or restrict external access to the vulnerable '/org.ajax4jsf.resource.UserResource' path using WAF rules or servlet filters.
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Since RichFaces 3.X is End-of-Life (EOL), no official security patches are available. The recommended long-term solution is to remove the RichFaces dependency and migrate to a modern JSF framework. To remove the vulnerable dependency in Maven:
<!-- Remove or comment out the vulnerable RichFaces 3.X dependency in pom.xml -->
<!--
<dependency>
<groupId>org.richfaces.framework</groupId>
<artifactId>richfaces-impl</artifactId>
<version>3.3.3.Final</version>
</dependency>
-->2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate migration is not feasible, restrict access to the vulnerable UserResource path by modifying the application's web.xml or configuring a reverse proxy/WAF rule.
<!-- Add security constraint in web.xml to block external access to UserResource -->
<security-constraint>
<web-resource-collection>
<web-resource-name>Block RichFaces UserResource</web-resource-name>
<url-pattern>*/org.ajax4jsf.resource.UserResource*</url-pattern>
</web-resource-collection>
<auth-constraint />
</security-constraint>3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Use the following Bash script to scan web server access logs for potential exploitation attempts targeting the RichFaces UserResource endpoint.
#!/bin/bash
# Scan Nginx or Apache access logs for CVE-2018-14667 exploitation attempts
LOG_FILE='/var/log/nginx/access.log'
SEARCH_PATTERN='org.ajax4jsf.resource.UserResource'
echo '[*] Scanning logs for CVE-2018-14667 exploitation attempts...'
grep -i "$SEARCH_PATTERN" "$LOG_FILE" && echo '[!] Warning: Potential exploitation attempts detected!' || echo '[+] No suspicious patterns found.'Block Exploits Instantly with Managed Virtual Patching Rules
Can't patch production immediately? Deploy managed WAF rules at the edge to intercept RCE, SQLi, and deserialization payloads before they hit your origin server.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability is an Expression Language (EL) injection and deserialization flaw within the UserResource component of the Red Hat RichFaces 3.X framework. RichFaces utilizes the org.ajax4jsf.resource.UserResource class to handle dynamic resources. The root cause lies in the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize client-supplied serialized data before deserializing it and evaluating it as an EL expression, allowing arbitrary code execution.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker targets the org.ajax4jsf.resource.UserResource$UriData class to construct a malicious chain of serialized Java objects. This payload is typically Base64-encoded and appended to the URL as a parameter (e.g., the DATA parameter). When the server processes the request, it deserializes the payload, triggering the evaluation of the embedded EL expression within the Java application context. This enables unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands via APIs like java.lang.Runtime.getRuntime().exec().
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
With a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical) and inclusion in the CISA KEV catalog, this vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild. Successful exploitation grants the attacker the privileges of the web server process (e.g., tomcat, jboss, or root), leading to potential lateral movement, sensitive database exfiltration, ransomware deployment, and complete infrastructure compromise.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
The RichFaces Framework 3.X through 3.3.4 is vulnerable to Expression Language (EL) injection via the UserResource resource. A remote, unauthenticated attacker could exploit this to execute arbitrary code using a chain of java serialized objects via org.ajax4jsf.resource.UserResource$UriData.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2018-14667)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2018-14667 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2018-14667 is rated CVSS 9.8 (CRITICAL) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 74.2%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2018-14667?
Primary impacted vendors include redhat, jboss across richfaces. Scope summary: RichFaces Framework versions 3.0.0 through 3.3.4 (RichFaces 3.X branch)
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2018-14667 before patching?
[Mitigation] Migrate legacy RichFaces 3.X applications to supported frameworks, or restrict external access to the vulnerable '/org.ajax4jsf.resource.UserResource' path using WAF rules or servlet filters. Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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