CVE-2014-0035 in CXF
Summary
by MITRE
The SymmetricBinding in Apache CXF before 2.6.13 and 2.7.x before 2.7.10, when EncryptBeforeSigning is enabled and the UsernameToken policy is set to an EncryptedSupportingToken, transmits the UsernameToken in cleartext, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0035 represents a critical security flaw in Apache CXF's SymmetricBinding implementation that fundamentally undermines the confidentiality assurances of web service security protocols. This weakness specifically affects versions prior to 2.6.13 and 2.7.10, creating a scenario where sensitive authentication credentials are transmitted in cleartext despite the presence of encryption mechanisms. The flaw manifests when the EncryptBeforeSigning feature is enabled in conjunction with UsernameToken policy configurations that specify EncryptedSupportingToken, creating a dangerous misconfiguration that bypasses intended security controls.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of security token processing within Apache CXF's WS-Security implementation. When the system processes a UsernameToken within an encrypted supporting token context, it fails to properly encrypt the token before transmission, leaving the username and password information exposed in plaintext. This occurs because the security binding logic does not correctly enforce the encryption requirements for supporting tokens, particularly when the UsernameToken is configured as an EncryptedSupportingToken. The flaw operates at the protocol level where the security policy enforcement mechanism is bypassed, allowing the cleartext transmission to occur during the service communication process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk for organizations relying on Apache CXF for web service security, as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks and network sniffing operations to capture authentication credentials. Attackers can easily intercept and decode the transmitted UsernameToken information, gaining unauthorized access to protected services and potentially escalating privileges within the affected systems. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft, as these credentials could provide access to sensitive enterprise resources, databases, and other protected services that rely on the compromised authentication mechanism. The vulnerability affects both the client and server components of web service communications, creating a persistent risk across the entire service ecosystem.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Apache CXF versions 2.6.13 or 2.7.10, which contain the necessary patches to address the encryption handling flaw. Security teams should also review their existing security policies to ensure that UsernameToken configurations properly enforce encryption requirements and consider implementing additional network-level protections such as transport layer security enforcement. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information) and represents a significant violation of security best practices as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 security controls. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers can leverage the exposed credentials to conduct further reconnaissance and lateral movement within compromised networks. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate credential exposure attempts.