CVE-2011-2733 in RSA Adaptive Authentication On-Premise
Summary
by MITRE
EMC RSA Adaptive Authentication On-Premise (AAOP) 6.0.2.1 SP1 Patch 2, SP1 Patch 3, SP2, SP2 Patch 1, and SP3 does not prevent reuse of authentication information during a session, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions via vectors related to knowledge of the originally used authentication information and unspecified other session information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2733 affects EMC RSA Adaptive Authentication On-Premise version 6.0.2.1 and its various service packs including SP1 Patch 2, SP1 Patch 3, SP2, SP2 Patch 1, and SP3. This authentication flaw represents a critical weakness in session management that undermines the security posture of organizations relying on this identity and access management solution. The vulnerability specifically targets the session handling mechanisms within the authentication framework, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit session information reuse patterns.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of authentication tokens and session identifiers during active user sessions. When a user successfully authenticates to the system, the application should generate unique session identifiers and properly manage the lifecycle of authentication credentials. However, in this vulnerable implementation, the system fails to adequately prevent the reuse of authentication information, allowing attackers to leverage previously valid session data to gain unauthorized access. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles of session management and authentication token handling that are typically addressed through proper session isolation and credential expiration mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to bypass intended access controls and potentially gain unauthorized access to protected resources. Remote authenticated users who can obtain knowledge of valid authentication information and associated session data can exploit this weakness to maintain access to systems and applications beyond the normal session boundaries. This creates a persistent threat vector where compromised session information can be reused across multiple authentication contexts, potentially allowing attackers to move laterally within networks or maintain prolonged access to sensitive environments.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session expiration, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through session hijacking. The vulnerability demonstrates weaknesses in the authentication framework's ability to properly manage session state and validate authentication contexts. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enhanced session management controls, proper credential rotation policies, and monitoring for unusual authentication patterns. The flaw also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management for identity and access management systems, as this vulnerability represents a fundamental failure in session handling that could be exploited by both internal and external threat actors.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust session management protocols that enforce unique session identifiers for each authentication event, proper session timeout mechanisms, and continuous monitoring for suspicious authentication behavior. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication factors and access controls beyond the basic credential validation to reduce the impact of session information reuse. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper session management in authentication systems and the potential consequences when these fundamental security controls are inadequately implemented.