CVE-2013-1921 in JBoss Enterprise Application Platform
Summary
by MITRE
PicketBox, as used in Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform before 6.1.1, allows local users to obtain the admin encryption key by reading the Vault data file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1921 affects PicketBox, a security framework component utilized within Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform versions prior to 6.1.1. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the platform's cryptographic key management system, specifically within the Vault data file handling mechanism. The vulnerability arises from insufficient access controls and improper file permissions that allow local users to directly read sensitive encryption key material stored in the Vault data file.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the design of the Vault component within PicketBox, which stores administrative encryption keys in a manner that does not adequately protect against unauthorized local access. When the JBoss application server operates with default configurations, the Vault data files containing the encryption keys are created with permissions that permit any local user account to read their contents. This represents a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security by design practices. The flaw can be categorized under CWE-276, which addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources, and more specifically aligns with CWE-310, concerning cryptographic issues related to key management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted for affected organizations. Local attackers who can execute code on the system hosting the JBoss application server can immediately extract administrative encryption keys, potentially compromising the entire security architecture of the platform. This access enables attackers to decrypt sensitive data that was previously protected by the encryption mechanisms, including but not limited to database credentials, application configuration files, and other confidential information stored within the Vault. The vulnerability also facilitates potential lateral movement within the network, as attackers can use the extracted keys to access other systems that rely on the same encryption infrastructure. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1552, which covers "Unsecured Credentials," and T1078, covering "Valid Accounts," as it allows attackers to escalate privileges through legitimate administrative keys.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 6.1.1 or later, which includes fixed implementations of the Vault component with proper access controls and key protection mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should review and tighten file permissions on Vault data files, ensuring that only authorized processes and users can access these critical security components. The implementation of proper access control lists and discretionary access controls should be enforced to prevent unauthorized local file access. Organizations should also conduct thorough security audits of their application server configurations to identify any other potential weaknesses in their cryptographic key management infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper key lifecycle management and the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect cryptographic assets from local privilege escalation attacks.