CVE-2016-5019 – This vulnerability in Apache MyFaces Trinidad a... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2016-5019?

CVE-2016-5019 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). This vulnerability in Apache MyFaces Trinidad allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through deserialization attacks by sending a crafted serialized view state string. It affects web applications using vulnerable versions of the Trinidad framework. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise.

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability in Apache MyFaces Trinidad allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through deserialization attacks by sending a crafted serialized view state string. It affects web applications using vulnerable versions of the Trinidad framework. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Apache MyFaces Trinidad

Versions: 1.0.0 through 1.0.13, 1.2.x before 1.2.15, 2.0.x before 2.0.2, and 2.1.x before 2.1.2

Operating Systems: All operating systems running Java applications

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Affects applications using Trinidad's CoreResponseStateManager with default serialization settings.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Remote code execution leading to full system compromise, data theft, and complete control of affected servers.

🟠

Likely Case

Remote code execution allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the server, potentially leading to data exfiltration or further network penetration.

🟢

If Mitigated

Attack prevented through proper input validation, updated libraries, or network segmentation limiting impact.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH - Web applications are typically internet-facing, making them directly accessible to attackers.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Internal applications could still be exploited by compromised internal users or through lateral movement.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ⚠️ Yes

Weaponized: LIKELY

Unauthenticated Exploit: ⚠️ Yes

Complexity: LOW

Exploitation requires sending crafted HTTP requests to vulnerable endpoints. Public exploit code exists in security advisories.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Trinidad 1.0.14, 1.2.15, 2.0.2, 2.1.2 or later

Vendor Advisory: http://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/myfaces-users/201609.mbox/%3CCAM1yOjYM%2BEW3mLUfX0pNAVLfUFRAw-Bhvkp3UE5%3DEQzR8Yxsfw%40mail.gmail.com%3E

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Identify Trinidad version in your application. 2. Update to patched version via Maven/Gradle or manual download. 3. Rebuild and redeploy application. 4. Restart application server.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Input Validation Filter

all

Implement servlet filter to validate and sanitize view state parameters before processing.

Implement custom filter in web.xml and Java class to inspect and block malicious serialized data

Disable Serialized View State

all

Configure Trinidad to use client-side state saving instead of server-side serialization.

Set trinidad-config.xml parameter: <state-saving>client</state-saving>

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement network segmentation to isolate vulnerable applications from critical systems
Deploy web application firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block deserialization attacks

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check application's Trinidad library version in pom.xml, build.gradle, or WEB-INF/lib directory.

Check Version:

java -cp trinidad-impl-*.jar org.apache.myfaces.trinidad.util.Version

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify updated Trinidad JAR files in WEB-INF/lib show version 1.0.14+, 1.2.15+, 2.0.2+, or 2.1.2+.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Java deserialization errors in application logs
Unexpected ClassNotFoundException or InvalidClassException
Suspicious HTTP requests with encoded view state parameters

Network Indicators:

HTTP POST requests with unusually long or encoded viewState parameters
Requests to Trinidad-specific endpoints like /faces/*

SIEM Query:

source="application.logs" AND ("ClassNotFoundException" OR "InvalidClassException" OR "deserialization")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2016-5019

CVSS v3 Score: 9.8 (CRITICAL)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-502

Published: October 3, 2016

Last Updated: April 12, 2025

🔗 References

http://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/myfaces-users/201609.mbox/%3CCAM1yOjYM%2BEW3mLUfX0pNAVLfUFRAw-Bhvkp3UE5%3DEQzR8Yxsfw%40mail.gmail.com%3E Mailing List,Vendor Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/138920/Apache-MyFaces-Trinidad-Information-Disclosure.html Third Party Advisory,VDB Entry
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2018-3678067.html Patch
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2016-2881720.html Patch
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html Patch
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html Patch
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2017-3236626.html Patch
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296.html Patch
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93236 Third Party Advisory,VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037633 Third Party Advisory,VDB Entry
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/TRINIDAD-2542 Vendor Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.html
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2020.html
http://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/myfaces-users/201609.mbox/%3CCAM1yOjYM%2BEW3mLUfX0pNAVLfUFRAw-Bhvkp3UE5%3DEQzR8Yxsfw%40mail.gmail.com%3E Mailing List,Vendor Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/138920/Apache-MyFaces-Trinidad-Information-Disclosure.html Third Party Advisory,VDB Entry
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2018-3678067.html Patch
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2016-2881720.html Patch
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2017-3236622.html Patch
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html Patch
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2017-3236626.html Patch
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296.html Patch
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93236 Third Party Advisory,VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037633 Third Party Advisory,VDB Entry
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/TRINIDAD-2542 Vendor Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.html
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2020.html

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📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

Myfaces Trinidad by Apache

Myfaces Trinidad by Apache

Myfaces Trinidad by Apache

Myfaces Trinidad by Apache

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

Worst Case

Likely Case

If Mitigated

🎯 Exploit Status

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Instructions:

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Input Validation Filter

Disable Serialized View State

🧯 If You Can't Patch

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Version:

Verify Fix Applied:

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Network Indicators:

SIEM Query:

📊 Metadata

🔗 References

📤 Share & Export

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities