CVE-2007-5797 in Geronimo
Summary
by MITRE
SQLLoginModule in Apache Geronimo 2.0 through 2.1 does not throw an exception for a nonexistent username, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via a login attempt with any username not contained in the database.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5797 resides within the SQLLoginModule component of Apache Geronimo versions 2.0 through 2.1, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that directly impacts the security posture of affected systems. This vulnerability stems from improper exception handling within the authentication module that processes user credentials against a database backend. When a login attempt is made with a username that does not exist in the database, the SQLLoginModule fails to raise an appropriate authentication exception, instead allowing the authentication process to proceed as if the credentials were valid. This behavior creates a significant security gap that enables attackers to exploit the system's authentication mechanism through simple username enumeration techniques. The flaw operates at the authentication layer and specifically affects the SQLLoginModule's handling of database query results, where the module should validate the existence of user accounts before granting access privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insecure authentication handling where the system does not properly differentiate between valid and invalid user credentials during the authentication process. When a user attempts to log in with a non-existent username, the underlying database query executes successfully but returns no results, yet the SQLLoginModule does not interpret this outcome as an authentication failure. This misconfiguration creates a scenario where any username can be used to bypass the authentication mechanism entirely, as the module's logic fails to properly validate whether the provided credentials correspond to an actual user account in the system. The vulnerability essentially allows for a form of authentication brute force attack where attackers can systematically test various username combinations without triggering proper authentication failure responses, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user enumeration could lead to further exploitation. This flaw directly relates to CWE-305 authentication bypass issues and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for credential access through brute force methods.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5797 extends beyond simple authentication bypass scenarios, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources within Apache Geronimo environments. Organizations running affected versions of Geronimo may find their authentication systems vulnerable to automated attacks that leverage the predictable behavior of the SQLLoginModule. The vulnerability allows for account enumeration attacks where attackers can determine valid usernames through simple login attempts, potentially leading to more sophisticated attacks such as credential stuffing or targeted brute force attacks against discovered valid accounts. Additionally, this flaw could facilitate privilege escalation attempts where attackers leverage the authentication bypass to access administrative functions or sensitive data stores that are protected by the compromised authentication system. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in multi-tenant environments or systems where user account management is critical for maintaining security boundaries.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by upgrading to Apache Geronimo versions that contain fixes for the SQLLoginModule authentication handling. The recommended approach involves applying the official security patches released by the Apache Geronimo project, which correct the improper exception handling behavior in the SQLLoginModule component. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as account lockout mechanisms, failed login attempt monitoring, and network-level access controls to limit the potential impact of this vulnerability. Configuration reviews should ensure that the SQLLoginModule is properly configured with appropriate error handling and that authentication responses do not provide information that could aid attackers in enumerating valid accounts. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any other authentication modules or components that might exhibit similar behaviors, as this vulnerability highlights a broader class of issues related to improper authentication validation in enterprise application servers. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patched authentication system properly handles both valid and invalid user credentials while maintaining the expected functionality for legitimate users.