CWE-917 Detail

CWE-917

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection')
Incomplete
2013-02-21
00h00 +00:00
2025-12-11
00h00 +00:00
Meldingen voor een CWE
Blijf op de hoogte van wijzigingen voor een specifieke CWE.
Meldingen beheren

Naam: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection')

The product constructs all or part of an expression language (EL) statement in a framework such as a Java Server Page (JSP) using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended EL statement before it is executed.

CWE-beschrijving

Frameworks such as Java Server Page (JSP) allow a developer to insert executable expressions within otherwise-static content. When the developer is not aware of the executable nature of these expressions and/or does not disable them, then if an attacker can inject expressions, this could lead to code execution or other unexpected behaviors.

Algemene informatie

Introductiemodi

Architecture and Design
Implementation

Toepasselijke platforms

Taal

Name: Java (Undetermined)

Veelvoorkomende gevolgen

Bereik Impact Waarschijnlijkheid
ConfidentialityRead Application Data
IntegrityExecute Unauthorized Code or Commands

Waargenomen voorbeelden

Referenties Beschrijving

CVE-2021-44228

Product does not neutralize ${xyz} style expressions, allowing remote code execution. (log4shell vulnerability in log4j)

Mogelijke risicobeperkingen

Phases : Architecture and Design
Avoid adding user-controlled data into an expression interpreter when possible.
Phases : Implementation
Phases : System Configuration // Operation
The framework or tooling might allow the developer to disable or deactivate the processing of EL expressions, such as setting the isELIgnored attribute for a JSP page to "true".

Detectiemethoden

Automated Static Analysis

Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)
Effectiviteit : High

Notities kwetsbaarheidsmapping

Rechtvaardiging : This CWE entry is at the Base level of abstraction, which is a preferred level of abstraction for mapping to the root causes of vulnerabilities.
Opmerking : Carefully read both the name and description to ensure that this mapping is an appropriate fit. Do not try to 'force' a mapping to a lower-level Base/Variant simply to comply with this preferred level of abstraction.

Notities

The interrelationships and differences between CWE-917 and CWE-1336 need to be further clarified.
In certain versions of Spring 3.0.5 and earlier, there was a vulnerability (CVE-2011-2730) in which Expression Language tags would be evaluated twice, which effectively exposed any application to EL injection. However, even for later versions, this weakness is still possible depending on configuration.

Referenties

REF-911

Expression Language Injection
Stefano Di Paola, Arshan Dabirsiaghi.
https://mindedsecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ExpressionLanguageInjection.pdf

REF-912

Remote Code with Expression Language Injection
Dan Amodio.
http://danamodio.com/appsec/research/spring-remote-code-with-expression-language-injection/

REF-1279

Neutralizing Your Inputs: A Log4Shell Weakness Story
CWE/CAPEC.
https://medium.com/@CWE_CAPEC/neutralizing-your-inputs-a-log4shell-weakness-story-89954c8b25c9

REF-1280

Expression Language Injection
OWASP.
https://owasp.org/www-community/vulnerabilities/Expression_Language_Injection

Indiening

Naam Organisatie Datum Releasedatum Version
CWE Content Team MITRE 2013-02-15 +00:00 2013-02-21 +00:00 2.4

Wijzigingen

Naam Organisatie Datum Opmerking
CWE Content Team MITRE 2017-11-08 +00:00 updated References
CWE Content Team MITRE 2018-03-27 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2020-02-24 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2020-08-20 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2020-12-10 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2021-07-20 +00:00 updated References
CWE Content Team MITRE 2021-10-28 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2022-06-28 +00:00 updated Description, Maintenance_Notes, Observed_Examples, Potential_Mitigations, References, Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-01-31 +00:00 updated Description
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-04-27 +00:00 updated Detection_Factors, References, Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-06-29 +00:00 updated Mapping_Notes
CWE Content Team MITRE 2025-12-11 +00:00 updated Relationships