CWE-917Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement ('Expression Language Injection')

Description

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.

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.

Common consequences

• Confidentiality→Read Application Data
• Integrity→Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands

Potential mitigations

• Architecture and Design
  Avoid adding user-controlled data into an expression interpreter when possible.
• Implementation
  [object Object]
• 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".

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