CVE-2012-2351 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of the auth/saml plugin in Mahara before 1.4.2 sets the "Match username attribute to Remote username" option to false, which allows remote SAML IdP servers to spoof users of other SAML IdP servers by using the same internal username.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-2351 affects the Mahara learning management system's SAML authentication plugin, specifically targeting the default configuration settings that govern user authentication and identity mapping. This issue represents a critical security flaw in the identity federation implementation where the system fails to properly validate user authenticity across different SAML identity providers. The vulnerability stems from a misconfiguration that disables the critical security mechanism for matching username attributes between the local system and remote identity providers, creating an exploitable gap in the authentication process.
The technical flaw manifests when the "Match username attribute to Remote username" option is set to false in the default configuration of Mahara's auth/saml plugin. This setting allows malicious actors controlling remote SAML identity providers to manipulate the authentication process by creating spoofed user accounts that appear legitimate to the target system. When this option is disabled, the system accepts any username provided by a remote SAML IdP without proper validation against the local user database, enabling cross-provider user impersonation attacks. The vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and authentication integrity, as it permits unauthorized access through manipulated identity assertions from external systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive educational data and system resources. An attacker controlling a malicious SAML IdP could impersonate legitimate users from other SAML providers, gaining access to their accounts, courses, and personal information. This creates a significant risk for educational institutions relying on federated identity management, as it undermines the trust model that SAML authentication is designed to establish. The vulnerability affects all Mahara installations using the affected plugin version prior to 1.4.2, making it a widespread concern for organizations implementing SAML-based authentication.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability involve immediate configuration changes to enable the username attribute matching functionality, which aligns with the principle of secure configuration management. Organizations should update to Mahara version 1.4.2 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper default configurations. Additionally, implementing proper monitoring of authentication logs can help detect suspicious authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure default configurations as outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential harvesting through identity provider manipulation. Regular security audits of authentication configurations and adherence to the principle of least privilege in identity management systems are essential preventive measures against similar issues in federated authentication environments.