CVE-2013-2167 in python-keystoneclient
Summary
by MITRE
python-keystoneclient version 0.2.3 to 0.2.5 has middleware memcache signing bypass
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2013-2167 affects the python-keystoneclient library version 0.2.3 through 0.2.5, specifically targeting the middleware memcache signing functionality. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity protection mechanisms designed to secure authentication tokens and session data within OpenStack cloud environments. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of signed cache entries, allowing malicious actors to bypass authentication checks through crafted cache data manipulation. The affected middleware component was responsible for caching authentication tokens and session information to improve performance while maintaining security through cryptographic signing. However, the implementation contained a flaw that permitted attackers to forge valid-looking cache entries that would be accepted by the system without proper verification.
The technical flaw manifests in the memcache signing bypass mechanism where the system fails to properly validate the cryptographic signatures associated with cached authentication data. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the middleware components that handle authentication token caching. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious cache entries that appear legitimate to the system's signature validation routines. The flaw is classified as a cryptographic weakness under CWE-310 and represents a failure in proper authentication token validation. The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation and unauthorized access to cloud resources, as the system accepts forged cache entries as valid authentication tokens. This bypass affects the fundamental security model of the keystone authentication service by undermining the integrity protection of cached session data.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2167 is severe for OpenStack deployments that rely on the affected python-keystoneclient versions. Organizations using cloud infrastructure may experience unauthorized access to sensitive data and services, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability enables attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain access to cloud resources without proper authentication, creating a significant risk for multi-tenant cloud environments where isolation between users is critical. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and service disruption. This vulnerability directly affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of cloud services by undermining the authentication mechanisms that protect user sessions and access controls. The flaw creates a persistent security weakness that remains active as long as the vulnerable software version is deployed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2167 require immediate software updates to versions that address the memcache signing bypass vulnerability. Organizations should upgrade to python-keystoneclient version 0.2.6 or later, which includes proper cryptographic signature validation mechanisms. System administrators must also implement additional monitoring to detect suspicious cache activity and potential exploitation attempts. The fix addresses the core cryptographic validation issue by strengthening the signature verification process and ensuring that all cached entries undergo proper integrity checks before being accepted. Security measures should include disabling memcache functionality if not essential for performance, implementing network segmentation to limit access to cache services, and conducting thorough security audits of authentication systems. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper cryptographic implementation and validation in cloud authentication systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1550.001 for legitimate credentials and T1078 for valid accounts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication and enhanced access logging to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The remediation process must include thorough testing to ensure that the updated software maintains proper functionality while addressing the cryptographic weaknesses identified in the vulnerability.