CVE-2014-0097 in Spring Security
Summary
by MITRE
The ActiveDirectoryLdapAuthenticator in Spring Security 3.2.0 to 3.2.1 and 3.1.0 to 3.1.5 does not check the password length. If the directory allows anonymous binds then it may incorrectly authenticate a user who supplies an empty password.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0097 affects the ActiveDirectoryLdapAuthenticator component within Spring Security versions 3.1.0 through 3.1.5 and 3.2.0 through 3.2.1. This flaw represents a critical authentication bypass issue that stems from inadequate input validation within the LDAP authentication mechanism. The vulnerability specifically targets the password validation process where the system fails to enforce minimum password length requirements, creating a security gap that can be exploited under certain conditions.
The technical flaw manifests when the ActiveDirectoryLdapAuthenticator component processes authentication requests without validating the length of provided passwords. This weakness becomes particularly dangerous when the underlying LDAP directory service permits anonymous bind operations. In such scenarios, an attacker can exploit this vulnerability by supplying an empty password string, which the authenticator accepts as valid due to the missing length check. This behavior violates fundamental security principles and creates an implicit trust relationship that should not exist.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass to potentially compromise entire directory services and user accounts. When anonymous binds are permitted, the vulnerability allows unauthorized access to systems that should require valid credentials. This situation creates a pathway for attackers to gain access to sensitive directory information, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data theft, or further network exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-254, which addresses weaknesses in authentication mechanisms, specifically focusing on insufficient input validation and inadequate credential checks.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1003 for credential dumping. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform reconnaissance and establish persistent access to systems that depend on LDAP authentication. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security architecture principles where authentication controls are not properly enforced at the application level, creating a mismatch between expected and actual security behavior.
The recommended mitigations include immediate upgrade to Spring Security versions that contain the fix for this vulnerability, typically versions 3.1.6 and 3.2.2 or later. Organizations should also implement proper LDAP directory configurations that disable anonymous bind operations where possible, and enforce strong password policies that include minimum length requirements. Additional defensive measures include monitoring authentication logs for unusual patterns, implementing account lockout mechanisms, and conducting regular security assessments of authentication components. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and the need for comprehensive security testing of authentication mechanisms before deployment in production environments.