Overview
Apache Roller is an open-source Java-based blogging platform designed for creating and managing multi-user blogs with customizable themes and plugins.
This Broken Access Control vulnerability in Apache Roller (versions ≤6.1.4) involves insufficient session expiration, where active user sessions remain valid after password changes. If user credentials were previously compromised, a malicious actor can obtain unauthorized access through the previous, still-active session.
The vulnerability is fixed in Apache Roller 6.1.5 by implementing centralized session management that properly invalidates all active sessions when passwords are changed or users are disabled.
Broken Access Control occurs when an application fails to properly enforce restrictions on what authenticated users are allowed to do, enabling attackers to access unauthorized functionality, data, or resources. It often stems from inadequate validation of user permissions, allowing someone to bypass intended security boundaries and perform actions beyond their assigned role.
Any of the following ramifications are possible:
- Allowing arbitrary code execution
- Complete system compromise
- Data theft or exposure
- Data manipulation or destruction
- Privilege escalation, and
- Denial of service.
Although Broken Access Control exploits are often serious, this is rated as low-severity because of the following mitigating factors:
- Specific conditions make exploitation less likely.
- The prior password needs to have been compromised and an active session using that password must exist.
- If exploitation succeeds, the potential harm is confined to unauthorized access to a single user's blog account without broader system-level consequences.
Details
Module Info
Product: Apache Roller
Affected packages: Apache Roller
Package manager: npm
Vulnerability Info
This low-severity vulnerability is found in Apache Roller versions lower than (and including) 6.1.4.
Addressing the Issue
Users of the affected component should apply one of the following mitigations:
- Manually invalidate the user sessions after changing a password.
- Manually invalidate all user sessions after changing a password by restarting the server or clearing all session data.
- Ensure session timeouts are active.
- Sign up for security support; HeroDevs customers get immediate access to a patched version of this module.
