Apache Axis2 xsd local file inclusion
Description
Apache Axis2 versions prior to 1.4.1 contain a local file inclusion vulnerability in the XSD (XML Schema Definition) file handling mechanism. When processing WSDL files, the application fails to properly validate the 'xsd' parameter, allowing attackers to reference and retrieve arbitrary files from the server's filesystem. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication by crafting malicious WSDL requests that traverse directory structures to access sensitive system files.
Remediation
Immediately upgrade Apache Axis2 to version 1.4.1 or later, which contains a fix for this vulnerability (AXIS2-4279). Follow these steps:
1. Download Apache Axis2 version 1.4.1 or newer from the official Apache archive
2. Back up your current Axis2 configuration and deployed services
3. Stop the application server hosting Axis2
4. Replace the existing Axis2 libraries with the updated version
5. Review and migrate any custom configurations to the new version
6. Restart the application server and verify that all services function correctly
7. Test the deployment to ensure the vulnerability is remediated
As an additional security measure, implement input validation and restrict file system access permissions for the web server process to minimize the impact of similar vulnerabilities. If immediate patching is not possible, consider disabling WSDL generation features or implementing web application firewall (WAF) rules to block requests containing suspicious file path patterns in the 'xsd' parameter.