CVE-2024-9342: Eclipse Glassfish Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-9342 Overview

CVE-2024-9342 is a vulnerability affecting Eclipse GlassFish version 7.0.16 and earlier that allows attackers to perform login brute force attacks due to the absence of rate limiting or account lockout mechanisms on failed login attempts. This authentication weakness (CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts) enables malicious actors on adjacent networks to systematically guess user credentials without any protective throttling.

Critical Impact

Attackers on adjacent networks can perform unlimited login attempts against GlassFish administration interfaces, potentially compromising administrative credentials and gaining unauthorized access to application server management functions.

Affected Products

• Eclipse GlassFish version 7.0.16
• Eclipse GlassFish versions prior to 7.0.16

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-16 - CVE-2024-9342 published to NVD
• 2025-07-16 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-9342

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from a missing security control in Eclipse GlassFish's authentication mechanism. The application server does not implement any form of rate limiting, account lockout, or progressive delay mechanisms for failed login attempts. This design flaw allows attackers with adjacent network access to systematically enumerate valid credentials through brute force attacks against the GlassFish admin console or other authenticated endpoints.

The adjacent network attack vector means that exploitation requires the attacker to be on the same network segment as the target GlassFish server—typically an internal network, VPN, or shared hosting environment. While this limits exposure compared to internet-facing attacks, it remains a significant risk in enterprise environments where lateral movement or insider threats are concerns.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of defensive mechanisms against repeated authentication failures (CWE-307). Eclipse GlassFish versions 7.0.16 and earlier lack implementation of:

• Account lockout policies after consecutive failed login attempts
• Progressive delays between authentication requests
• CAPTCHA or similar challenge-response mechanisms
• IP-based rate limiting for login endpoints

Without these controls, the authentication system treats each login attempt identically regardless of failure history, creating an unlimited attack surface for credential guessing.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs via adjacent network access (AV:A), requiring no privileges and no user interaction. An attacker positioned on the same network segment can target the GlassFish administration interface, typically accessible on port 4848, or other authenticated services. The attack workflow involves automated submission of credential combinations against login endpoints, with no server-side mechanisms to detect or prevent the enumeration activity.

The vulnerability primarily impacts confidentiality, as successful brute force attacks lead to credential disclosure. Downstream systems relying on GlassFish for authentication may experience elevated impacts if administrative credentials are compromised.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-9342

Indicators of Compromise

• High volumes of authentication failures from single or clustered source IP addresses targeting GlassFish admin console
• Unusual login patterns showing rapid sequential attempts with varying usernames or passwords
• Access logs showing requests to /common/adminconsole/login.jsf or authentication endpoints at abnormal rates
• Multiple failed authentications followed by successful login, indicating potential credential compromise

Detection Strategies

• Configure centralized logging for GlassFish authentication events and monitor for anomalous failure rates
• Deploy network intrusion detection rules to identify brute force patterns against GlassFish administrative ports (default 4848)
• Implement SIEM correlation rules to alert on authentication failures exceeding baseline thresholds within time windows
• Monitor for credential stuffing indicators such as diverse username attempts from single sources

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed audit logging for all authentication events on GlassFish servers
• Establish baseline metrics for normal authentication failure rates and alert on deviations
• Implement network flow analysis to detect high-frequency connections to admin interfaces
• Consider deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with brute force protection capabilities in front of GlassFish

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-9342

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to GlassFish administration interfaces to authorized management networks only
• Implement external rate limiting using a reverse proxy, load balancer, or WAF in front of GlassFish
• Enable strong password policies requiring complex credentials that resist dictionary attacks
• Consider implementing multi-factor authentication through external identity providers
• Review authentication logs for evidence of prior brute force attempts

Patch Information

Monitor Eclipse GlassFish releases for security updates addressing this vulnerability. Refer to the GitLab CVE Assignment Issue for official tracking and remediation guidance. Organizations should plan to upgrade to patched versions when available.

Workarounds

• Deploy a reverse proxy (nginx, Apache) with rate limiting modules in front of GlassFish administration interfaces
• Configure firewall rules to restrict access to port 4848 and other admin endpoints to specific management IP ranges
• Implement fail2ban or similar tools to automatically block IP addresses exhibiting brute force behavior
• Use VPN or bastion host architecture to add an authentication layer before GlassFish access

# Example nginx rate limiting configuration for GlassFish admin console
limit_req_zone $binary_remote_addr zone=glassfish_admin:10m rate=5r/m;

server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name glassfish-admin.internal;
    
    location /common/adminconsole/ {
        limit_req zone=glassfish_admin burst=3 nodelay;
        proxy_pass https://glassfish-backend:4848;
    }
}