CVE-2019-3801
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to hijack DNS entries for Java dependencies during build processes, enabling code injection into Cloud Foundry components. It affects Cloud Foundry cf-deployment versions before 7.9.0 that use insecure protocols for fetching dependencies. Organizations using vulnerable versions are at risk of supply chain attacks.
💻 Affected Systems
- Cloud Foundry cf-deployment
📦 What is this software?
Cf Deployment by Cloudfoundry
Credhub by Cloudfoundry
Credhub by Cloudfoundry
Uaa Release by Cloudfoundry
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete compromise of Cloud Foundry deployment with malicious code execution, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation across the platform.
Likely Case
Malicious dependency injection leading to compromised components, potential data breaches, and unauthorized access to Cloud Foundry resources.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper network segmentation, dependency verification, and build environment isolation preventing successful exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires DNS hijacking capability and knowledge of dependency sources used during builds.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 7.9.0 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.cloudfoundry.org/blog/cve-2019-3801
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Upgrade cf-deployment to version 7.9.0 or later. 2. Rebuild all affected components. 3. Redeploy the updated cf-deployment. 4. Verify all components use secure protocols for dependency fetching.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Enforce Secure Protocol Usage
allConfigure build systems to use HTTPS/TLS for all dependency fetches and disable insecure protocols
Configure Maven/Gradle to use HTTPS repositories only
Set maven.wagon.http.ssl.insecure=false
Use dependency verification tools
DNS Protection
allImplement DNS security controls to prevent hijacking of dependency domains
Configure DNSSEC validation
Use trusted DNS resolvers
Implement DNS filtering
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate build environments from untrusted networks
- Implement strict dependency verification and checksum validation
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check cf-deployment version: bosh deployments | grep cf-deploymentCheck Version:
bosh deployments | grep cf-deploymentVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 7.9.0+: bosh deployments | grep 'cf-deployment.*7.9'📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual dependency fetch patterns
- DNS resolution failures for dependency domains
- Build failures with dependency errors
Network Indicators:
- DNS queries to unusual domains during builds
- HTTP (non-HTTPS) traffic to dependency repositories
SIEM Query:
source="build-logs" AND ("dependency fetch failed" OR "untrusted repository")