Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A remote, unauthenticated attacker can send malicious serialized data to the JBoss HTTP Invoker and potentially take full control of the application server. Successful exploitation could expose data, alter applications, or disrupt services.
Executive priority
Treat this as an immediate remediation priority. It combines unauthenticated remote code execution, maximum business-impact potential, public exploit material, and CISA-confirmed exploitation. Internet-facing or broadly reachable affected systems should be addressed first.
Technical view
CVE-2017-12149 is CWE-502 unsafe deserialization in ReadOnlyAccessFilter.doFilter. JBoss Application Server shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Application Platform 5.2 fails to restrict deserialized classes. The CVSS 3.1 score is 9.8 because exploitation is network-accessible, low-complexity, requires no privileges or user interaction, and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely where Red Hat Enterprise Application Platform 5.2 runs the affected JBoss Application Server and its HTTP Invoker is reachable by untrusted networks. The bundle does not identify other affected versions or products, so broader exposure should not be assumed.
Exploitation context
CISA lists CVE-2017-12149 in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, supporting active exploitation in the wild. The CVE references public exploit material. No campaign details, exploitation volume, or observed attacker objectives are provided in the source bundle.
Researcher notes
The vulnerable filter does not constrain classes during Java deserialization, creating an attacker-controlled object-processing path. Assessment should focus on exact EAP 5.2 package provenance, HTTP Invoker reachability, advisory applicability, and evidence of prior interaction. The bundle does not provide indicators of compromise or precise fixed package versions.
Mitigation direction
- Apply the applicable Red Hat updates documented in RHSA-2018:1607 or RHSA-2018:1608.
- Consult Red Hat guidance to determine which advisory and packages match each deployment.
- Restrict untrusted network access to the HTTP Invoker until remediation is verified.
- Prioritize replacement or isolation if the legacy platform cannot receive the vendor update.
Validation and detection
- Inventory deployments of Red Hat Enterprise Application Platform 5.2 and their JBoss components.
- Determine whether the HTTP Invoker is reachable from internet or other untrusted networks.
- Compare installed package versions with the applicable Red Hat security advisory.
- Verify network restrictions and vendor updates remain effective after service restart.
- Review relevant server and network telemetry for anomalous HTTP Invoker activity.
Public sources used
The source record changed after analysis: Material source record changed after analysis.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-502: Code execution behavior lookup
Code execution and unsafe deserialization weaknesses often justify reviewing execution behavior and process telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2017-12149 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CISA KEV status
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- Added to KEVCISA-ADP
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities metadata lists this CVE as known exploited.
- ADP timelineCISA-ADP
CVE-2017-12149 added to CISA KEV
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
- 2021-12-10T00:00:00.000Z: CVE-2017-12149 added to CISA KEV
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1486220CVE reference, redhat · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- RHSA-2018:1608CVE reference, redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://github.com/gottburgm/Exploits/tree/master/CVE-2017-12149CVE reference, redhat · x_refsource_MISC
- RHSA-2018:1607CVE reference, redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-12149CVE reference, CISA-ADP · government-resource
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Deserialization of Untrusted Data represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.