CVE-2009-2713 in Java System Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The CDCServlet component in Sun Java System Access Manager 7.0 2005Q4 and 7.1, when Cross Domain Single Sign On (CDSSO) is enabled, does not ensure that "policy advice" is presented to the correct client, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2713 resides within the CDCServlet component of Sun Java System Access Manager versions 7.0 2005Q4 and 7.1, specifically when Cross Domain Single Sign On functionality is enabled. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the authentication process by failing to properly validate policy advice presentation to client applications. The issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that should ensure policy decisions are appropriately directed to the intended client systems within cross-domain authentication scenarios.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure in the policy advice validation process where the system does not adequately verify that authentication policies and related security information are being transmitted to the correct client applications. This vulnerability creates a potential information disclosure risk that can be exploited by remote attackers through unspecified attack vectors. The flaw occurs at the communication layer where policy advice information flows between authentication servers and client applications, particularly when cross-domain single sign-on operations are in progress. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to intercept or manipulate policy decisions that should remain confined to specific client contexts.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability compromises the fundamental security model of cross-domain authentication systems. Attackers can potentially gain access to sensitive information that should be restricted to specific client applications, undermining the confidentiality and integrity of the authentication process. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on cross-domain single sign-on capabilities for managing access across multiple domains or applications, potentially exposing privileged information and authentication tokens to unauthorized parties. This could lead to privilege escalation, unauthorized access to protected resources, and broader compromise of the authentication infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and relates to the broader category of authentication bypass vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the authentication and authorization processes. Organizations using affected versions of Sun Java System Access Manager should prioritize immediate remediation through official patches provided by Oracle, as the vulnerability directly impacts the core security functionality of the access management system.
Mitigation strategies include implementing the latest security patches from Oracle, disabling Cross Domain Single Sign On functionality if not strictly required, and conducting thorough security assessments of all cross-domain authentication configurations. Network segmentation and monitoring of authentication traffic can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their access control policies and ensure proper client validation mechanisms are in place to prevent unauthorized access to policy advice information. Regular security audits of authentication systems and maintaining up-to-date vulnerability management processes are essential for preventing exploitation of similar flaws in the authentication infrastructure.