CVE-2011-4314 in Kay Framework
Summary
by MITRE
message/ax/AxMessage.java in OpenID4Java before 0.9.6 final, as used in JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 5.1 before 5.1.2, Step2, Kay Framework before 1.0.2, and possibly other products does not verify that Attribute Exchange (AX) information is signed, which allows remote attackers to modify potentially sensitive AX information without detection via a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-4314 represents a critical security flaw in the OpenID4Java library that affects multiple enterprise applications including JBoss Enterprise Application Platform and various frameworks. This issue stems from the improper handling of Attribute Exchange (AX) information within the OpenID authentication process, specifically in the message/ax/AxMessage.java component. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate sensitive attribute information during authentication transactions without detection, fundamentally undermining the integrity of the authentication mechanism.
The technical flaw manifests in the library's failure to validate digital signatures on Attribute Exchange data, creating a man-in-the-middle attack vector where malicious actors can intercept and modify AX attribute values during transmission. This weakness operates at the protocol level where the system accepts AX information without cryptographic verification, allowing unauthorized modification of sensitive user attributes such as email addresses, names, or other personal identifiers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates silently, with no detection mechanisms alerting the system to the tampering that has occurred.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it can lead to serious security consequences including unauthorized access to systems, privilege escalation, and impersonation attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness to inject false attributes that may be used by applications to make authorization decisions, potentially allowing them to gain access to restricted resources or perform actions beyond their legitimate privileges. The vulnerability affects multiple implementations across different platforms, making it a widespread concern for organizations using affected versions of the OpenID4Java library.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to OpenID4Java version 0.9.6 or later, which includes proper signature verification for AX messages. Additional protective measures involve implementing network-level security controls such as SSL/TLS encryption with strong cipher suites, network segmentation to limit attack surface, and monitoring for unusual authentication patterns. The vulnerability maps to CWE-347, which addresses improper certificate validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for credential access through manipulation of authentication tokens. Security teams should also consider implementing additional authentication layers and regular security assessments to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations must ensure that all systems using OpenID4Java are updated and that proper cryptographic validation is enforced for all attribute exchanges to prevent successful exploitation of this vulnerability.