CVE-2013-3107 in vCenter Server
Summary
by MITRE
VMware vCenter Server 5.1 before Update 1, when anonymous LDAP binding for Active Directory is enabled, allows remote attackers to bypass authentication by providing a valid username in conjunction with an empty password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3107 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within VMware vCenter Server version 5.1 prior to Update 1. This issue specifically manifests when anonymous LDAP binding is enabled for Active Directory integration, creating a dangerous security gap that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to the system. The flaw stems from improper validation of authentication credentials, where the system fails to properly enforce password requirements when LDAP binding is configured to allow anonymous connections. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity of the authentication mechanism by permitting attackers to authenticate using valid usernames with empty passwords, effectively circumventing the normal authentication process that should require valid credentials.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a fundamental flaw in the LDAP authentication handling logic within vCenter Server. When anonymous LDAP binding is enabled, the system should properly validate that authentication attempts include valid credentials rather than allowing empty password submissions to be accepted as legitimate authentication. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, specifically focusing on authentication bypass through weak credential validation. Attackers can leverage this flaw by simply providing a valid username from the Active Directory domain along with an empty password string, which the vulnerable system incorrectly accepts as valid authentication. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of credential verification and demonstrates a critical failure in the authentication subsystem's input validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-3107 is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing affected VMware vCenter Server implementations. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains unauthorized access to the vCenter Server management interface, potentially leading to complete compromise of the virtualized environment. This access allows adversaries to manipulate virtual machines, modify configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially escalate privileges within the virtual infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the core management functionality of VMware vCenter, which serves as the central point for managing virtualized environments, making it a highly attractive target for attackers. The impact extends beyond immediate unauthorized access as it can enable further attacks within the network infrastructure, particularly in environments where vCenter Server acts as a critical management component for virtual machine operations and security policies.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by applying VMware's official security update for vCenter Server 5.1 Update 1, which resolves the authentication bypass issue through proper credential validation. Additionally, administrators should disable anonymous LDAP binding in Active Directory integration settings when possible, and implement network segmentation to limit access to vCenter Server management interfaces. The mitigation strategy should include monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts and implementing multi-factor authentication where feasible. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential access through exploitation of vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security assessments to prevent similar authentication bypass scenarios. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper credential validation and the need for robust authentication mechanisms in enterprise management systems, particularly those handling critical infrastructure components.