CVE-2014-3655 in JBoss KeyCloak
Summary
by MITRE
JBoss KeyCloak is vulnerable to soft token deletion via CSRF
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2024
JBoss KeyCloak represents a widely adopted identity and access management solution that provides centralized authentication and authorization services for enterprise applications. The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-3655 specifically targets the platform's token management functionality, creating a critical security weakness that can be exploited through cross-site request forgery techniques. This vulnerability exists within the soft token deletion mechanism, which allows unauthorized users to manipulate the system's token handling processes without proper authentication. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of user requests when performing token deletion operations, enabling malicious actors to craft specially crafted requests that can remove legitimate user tokens.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic cross-site request forgery weakness that aligns with CWE-352, which categorizes insecure direct object references and improper request validation. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking authenticated users into visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links that automatically submit deletion requests to the KeyCloak server. The system fails to properly verify the origin of these requests or validate that the deletion actions are legitimate user intentions, creating a pathway for unauthorized token removal. This particular flaw operates at the application layer and requires minimal privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where KeyCloak manages critical authentication infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple token deletion, as it can compromise the entire authentication ecosystem managed by KeyCloak. When soft tokens are deleted without proper authorization, users may lose access to their applications and services, potentially creating denial-of-service conditions for legitimate users. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to systematically remove tokens from specific users or groups, effectively locking them out of the system while maintaining their own access. The broader implications include potential credential theft scenarios, where attackers might delete tokens and then attempt to re-authenticate using stolen credentials, or manipulate the authentication flow to gain unauthorized access to protected resources. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on token-based authentication and may have cascading effects on dependent systems that trust KeyCloak for authentication decisions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including the deployment of proper request origin validation mechanisms, implementation of anti-CSRF tokens for all administrative operations, and the enforcement of strict session management policies. The solution architecture should incorporate request verification checks that validate the authenticity of token deletion requests through multiple factors including user session integrity, request headers, and proper authentication tokens. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor for suspicious deletion patterns and implement rate limiting for administrative operations. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that all user-facing administrative interfaces properly implement CSRF protection mechanisms, and that token management operations require explicit user confirmation before execution. The implementation of these controls aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which addresses credential access through various manipulation methods, and addresses the broader security principle of least privilege enforcement. Organizations should also consider implementing centralized logging and monitoring for all token management operations to detect unauthorized deletion attempts and maintain audit trails for compliance purposes.