CVE-2013-1865 in Keystone Folsom
Summary
by MITRE
OpenStack Keystone Folsom (2012.2) does not properly perform revocation checks for Keystone PKI tokens when done through a server, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via a revoked PKI token.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1865 affects OpenStack Keystone Folsom release 2012.2 and represents a critical flaw in the token revocation mechanism for PKI tokens. This issue specifically impacts the server-side validation process where Keystone fails to properly verify the revocation status of PKI tokens, creating a persistent security weakness that undermines the authentication and authorization framework. The vulnerability exists within the Keystone service's token validation logic, which is fundamental to OpenStack's identity management system and controls access to cloud resources across multiple tenants and services.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of token revocation checking within the Keystone server component. When PKI tokens are generated and subsequently revoked through the administrative interface or automated processes, the server-side validation mechanism fails to properly query the revocation list or maintain consistent state information about token validity. This creates a window of opportunity where attackers can continue to utilize previously revoked tokens to gain unauthorized access to cloud resources, effectively bypassing the intended access controls and privilege separation mechanisms that Keystone is designed to enforce. The flaw specifically manifests when the token validation process does not properly cross-reference the token against the current revocation status within the Keystone database or cache layer.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within OpenStack environments that rely on Keystone for identity management. Attackers who obtain access to revoked PKI tokens can maintain persistent access to cloud resources, potentially compromising multiple services and data repositories within the tenant environment. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to unauthorized data access, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the cloud infrastructure. The impact extends beyond individual service breaches to affect the overall integrity and security posture of the entire OpenStack deployment, particularly in multi-tenant environments where proper access controls are essential for maintaining data isolation and security boundaries.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of OpenStack Keystone that address this specific token revocation flaw, implementing additional monitoring and alerting for unauthorized token usage patterns, and establishing more robust token lifecycle management procedures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and represents a failure in proper privilege management as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and persistence tactics. Security teams should also consider implementing token validation logging, regular token audit procedures, and enhanced monitoring of token revocation events to detect potential exploitation attempts. The recommended remediation includes not only software patching but also architectural considerations such as implementing more robust token state synchronization mechanisms and ensuring proper cache invalidation procedures when tokens are revoked.