ForgeRock Access Manager (OpenAM) JATO Java Deserialization Remote Code Execution (RCE) Vulnerability (CVE-2021-35464) Security Advisory
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTForgeRock Access Manager (AM) versions prior to 7.0 (including OpenAM 14.6.3 and earlier)
Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary code with system privileges by sending a single crafted HTTP request
Immediately upgrade to ForgeRock AM 7.0 or later, or restrict external access to JATO-related endpoints such as /ccversion/*
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
The recommended remediation is to upgrade ForgeRock AM to version 7.0 or higher. For containerized deployments, update your base image in the Dockerfile.
# Update the base image in your Dockerfile to a secure version
FROM forgerock/openam:7.0.0
# Rebuild and redeploy the container image
# docker build -t my-reg/openam:7.0.0 .2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If an immediate upgrade is not feasible, block access to the vulnerable /ccversion/* endpoint and requests containing the jato.pageSession parameter using a reverse proxy or WAF.
# Nginx configuration to block exploitation attempts
server {
listen 80;
server_name am.example.com;
# Block access to the vulnerable JATO endpoint
location ~* /ccversion/ {
return 403 'Access Denied: Security Policy Restriction';
}
# Block requests containing the malicious parameter
if ($args ~* "jato.pageSession") {
return 403;
}
}3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Inspect web server access logs to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting the /ccversion path or containing the jato.pageSession parameter.
# Scan access logs for indicators of compromise (IoCs)
grep -Ei 'ccversion|jato\.pageSession' /var/log/nginx/access.log /var/log/httpd/access_log
# Verify the running Java process and environment for ForgeRock AM
ps -ef | grep -i 'openam' | grep -i 'java'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 a Java deserialization flaw in ForgeRock Access Manager (formerly OpenAM) stemming from the integration of the legacy Sun ONE Application Framework (JATO). In environments running Java 8 or earlier, the JATO framework processes user-supplied input via the jato.pageSession parameter without proper validation. Consequently, when untrusted data is deserialized back into Java objects, it triggers arbitrary code execution.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An unauthenticated attacker can access JATO-based pages, including the /ccversion/* path, without any credentials. By leveraging known Java deserialization gadget chains (such as CommonsCollections), the attacker crafts a malicious payload designed to execute OS commands. This payload is typically Base64-encoded and passed via the jato.pageSession parameter. Upon receiving a single HTTP GET or POST request containing this payload, the server deserializes the object and immediately executes the embedded commands.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
With a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical) and its inclusion in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, this vulnerability represents an active and severe threat. Successful exploitation grants the attacker complete control over the ForgeRock AM server, which serves as the enterprise's Identity and Access Management (IAM) hub. This can lead to lateral movement within the internal network, credential harvesting, ransomware deployment, and catastrophic business disruption.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
ForgeRock AM server before 7.0 has a Java deserialization vulnerability in the jato.pageSession parameter on multiple pages. The exploitation does not require authentication, and remote code execution can be triggered by sending a single crafted /ccversion/* request to the server. The vulnerability exists due to the usage of Sun ONE Application Framework (JATO) found in versions of Java 8 or earlier
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2021-35464)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2021-35464 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2021-35464 is rated CVSS 9.8 (CRITICAL) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 100.0%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2021-35464?
Primary impacted vendors include forgerock across access manager, openam. Scope summary: All ForgeRock Access Manager (AM) versions prior to 7.0, including OpenAM 14.6.3 and below
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2021-35464 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately upgrade to ForgeRock AM 7.0 or later, or restrict external access to JATO-related endpoints such as /ccversion/* Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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