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Exploit Public Facing Application via Apache Commons Text

The following analytic detects attempts to exploit the CVE-2022-42889 vulnerability in the Apache Commons Text Library, known as Text4Shell. It leverages the Web datamodel to identify suspicious HTTP requests…

Description

The following analytic detects attempts to exploit the CVE-2022-42889 vulnerability in the Apache Commons Text Library, known as Text4Shell. It leverages the Web datamodel to identify suspicious HTTP requests containing specific lookup keys (url, dns, script) that can lead to Remote Code Execution (RCE). This activity is significant as it targets a critical vulnerability that can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server. If confirmed malicious, this could lead to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within the network.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
ContainersESXiIaaSLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 3 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.

Log source category
nginx_access

Known benign triggers

  • False positives are present when the values are set to 1 for utf and lookup. It's possible to raise this to TTP (direct finding) if removal of other_lookups occur and Score is raised to 2 (down from 4).

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