CVE-2008-3274 in FreeIPA
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of Red Hat Enterprise IPA 1.0.0 and FreeIPA before 1.1.1 places ldap:///anyone on the read ACL for the krbMKey attribute, which allows remote attackers to obtain the Kerberos master key via an anonymous LDAP query.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-3274 represents a critical access control flaw in the Identity, Policy, and Audit (IPA) system implementation within Red Hat Enterprise IPA 1.0.0 and FreeIPA versions prior to 1.1.1. This issue stems from improper default configuration settings that expose sensitive Kerberos master key information through an overly permissive Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) access control list. The flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to retrieve the krbMKey attribute through anonymous LDAP queries, fundamentally undermining the security posture of the identity management infrastructure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper configuration of access control lists within the LDAP directory service that underpins the IPA system. Specifically, the read ACL for the krbMKey attribute was configured to allow access from any anonymous LDAP client, represented by the ldap:///anyone syntax. This configuration violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and access control, as the Kerberos master key is a critical cryptographic component that should only be accessible to authorized system components and administrators. The krbMKey attribute contains the master key used for Kerberos ticket encryption, making it an extremely valuable target for attackers seeking to compromise the entire Kerberos authentication infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within enterprise environments that rely on IPA for identity management. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains access to the Kerberos master key, which provides the capability to forge Kerberos tickets and impersonate any user or service within the domain. This compromises the integrity of the entire authentication system and can lead to widespread unauthorized access to network resources, applications, and systems that depend on Kerberos authentication. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the identity management infrastructure, as attackers can not only read sensitive information but also potentially modify authentication data and escalate privileges across the network.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a classic example of misconfigured permissions that violates the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this issue maps to techniques such as T1552.001 (Unsecured Credentials) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage the exposed master key to establish persistent access and move laterally within the network. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper security configuration management and the dangers of default configurations that prioritize ease of use over security. Organizations should implement regular security audits of their directory services, enforce strict access control policies, and ensure that cryptographic keys and sensitive attributes are properly protected. The remediation involves updating to FreeIPA version 1.1.1 or later, where the default configuration properly restricts access to the krbMKey attribute, and implementing comprehensive access control reviews for all LDAP attributes containing sensitive information.
The broader implications of this vulnerability extend beyond the immediate security breach, as it highlights the critical importance of secure default configurations in enterprise security systems. Organizations must recognize that default settings often prioritize usability and rapid deployment over security, creating potential attack vectors that may not be immediately apparent. This incident underscores the necessity for security-conscious configuration management practices and the implementation of automated security scanning tools to identify and remediate similar misconfigurations across network infrastructure components. Proper security training for system administrators and regular penetration testing of identity management systems can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into production environments.