CVE-2007-4364 in Commons
Summary
by MITRE
Fedora Commons before 2.2.1 does not properly handle certain authentication requests involving Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI), related to (1) a nonexistent account name in combination with an empty password, which allows remote attackers to trigger a certain "unexpected / strange response" from an LDAP server, and (2) a reauthentication attempt that throws an exception, which allows remote attackers to trigger use of a cached authentication decision. NOTE: authentication can be bypassed by using vector 1 followed by vector 2, and possibly can be bypassed by using a single vector.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4364 affects Fedora Commons versions prior to 2.2.1 and represents a significant authentication flaw within the Java Naming and Directory Interface implementation. This issue stems from improper handling of authentication requests through JNDI, which creates exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the interaction between Fedora Commons and LDAP servers, exploiting weaknesses in how authentication decisions are processed and cached.
The technical flaw manifests in two distinct attack vectors that demonstrate the insecure handling of authentication requests. The first vector involves attempting authentication with a nonexistent account name combined with an empty password, which triggers an unexpected response from the LDAP server. This behavior creates a condition where the system does not properly validate the authentication attempt and instead returns a response that can be manipulated by attackers. The second vector involves reauthentication attempts that throw exceptions, leading to the use of cached authentication decisions rather than performing fresh validation. This caching mechanism becomes problematic when the cached decision is based on an incomplete or manipulated authentication attempt.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass, as it creates a pathway for unauthorized access to systems that rely on Fedora Commons for content management and digital asset handling. Attackers can exploit the combination of these vectors to effectively circumvent authentication controls, potentially gaining access to sensitive digital content, administrative functions, and system resources. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that authentication bypass can be achieved through either vector alone, or through the strategic combination of both, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Fedora Commons serves as a core authentication infrastructure.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. The flaw represents a classic case of insecure input handling and improper error management in authentication flows, where the system's response to malformed or unexpected authentication requests creates exploitable conditions. Organizations using Fedora Commons before version 2.2.1 should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the patched version, implementing additional authentication layers, and monitoring for unusual authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper error handling and validation in authentication systems, particularly when integrating with external directory services like LDAP. Systems should not rely on cached decisions from potentially compromised authentication attempts and must ensure that each authentication request is properly validated regardless of previous interactions. The issue also underscores the need for robust security testing of authentication flows, particularly in systems that integrate with JNDI and LDAP services, as these components often present complex attack surfaces that require careful security consideration. Organizations should review their authentication architectures to ensure that similar flaws do not exist in other components and implement comprehensive monitoring to detect anomalous authentication behaviors that might indicate exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.