CVE-2014-3656 in JBoss KeyCloak
Summary
by MITRE
JBoss KeyCloak: XSS in login-status-iframe.html
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3656 affects JBoss KeyCloak, a comprehensive identity and access management solution that provides single sign-on capabilities for enterprise applications. This specific flaw resides within the login-status-iframe.html component of the KeyCloak implementation, representing a cross-site scripting vulnerability that could potentially compromise user sessions and enable unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the iframe status checking functionality that KeyCloak employs to monitor user authentication states across different domains.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the login-status-iframe.html page fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input parameters before incorporating them into the page's dynamic content generation process. When an attacker can manipulate parameters passed to this iframe component, they can inject malicious script code that executes within the context of a victim's browser session. This particular flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, where the system fails to validate or escape user-controllable data before including it in dynamically generated web content. The vulnerability typically manifests when the application processes URL parameters or other user inputs without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist until the browser session ends or the page is refreshed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates potential pathways for session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation within the KeyCloak environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS flaw could potentially steal authentication tokens, impersonate legitimate users, or redirect victims to malicious sites that appear to be legitimate KeyCloak interfaces. The attack surface is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where KeyCloak serves as a central authentication hub for multiple applications, as compromise of a single user session could potentially cascade to access other systems within the organization's ecosystem. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing persistence through manipulation of authentication processes, and T1566 which covers social engineering tactics that can be amplified through compromised authentication interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3656 should prioritize immediate patching of affected KeyCloak versions, with organizations implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their authentication flows. The recommended approach involves ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized before being processed by the login-status-iframe.html component, with additional measures such as implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious parameter patterns, while establishing monitoring procedures to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of input validation in authentication systems and highlights the necessity of following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project, particularly focusing on the prevention of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that can undermine the entire security architecture of identity management solutions.