CVE-2014-7246 in OpenAM
Summary
by MITRE
The Core Server in OpenAM 9.5.3 through 9.5.5, 10.0.0 through 10.0.2, 10.1.0-Xpress, and 11.0.0 through 11.0.2, when deployed on a multi-server network, allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted cookie in a request.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7246 affects OpenAM core server components across multiple versions including 9.5.3 through 9.5.5, 10.0.0 through 10.0.2, 10.1.0-Xpress, and 11.0.0 through 11.0.2. This issue manifests as a denial of service condition that can be triggered through a specially crafted cookie within HTTP requests. The vulnerability specifically impacts deployments configured in multi-server network environments where the core server component operates as part of a distributed architecture. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that can be exploited by authenticated attackers who possess valid credentials to compromise system availability and potentially disrupt business operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and processing within the OpenAM core server's cookie handling mechanism. When a crafted cookie is submitted in a request, the server processes this input through a flawed validation routine that leads to an infinite loop condition. This occurs because the cookie parsing and validation logic does not properly handle malformed or specially constructed cookie values, causing the server to enter a continuous processing loop that consumes system resources and effectively renders the service unavailable. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the session management and authentication processing components of OpenAM's core server functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-7246 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect broader system availability and business continuity. In multi-server deployments, this vulnerability can cascade across the distributed architecture, potentially affecting multiple server instances and creating widespread service degradation. The infinite loop condition consumes CPU cycles and memory resources, which can lead to system performance degradation or complete service unavailability. Organizations relying on OpenAM for identity management and access control may experience significant operational disruption, particularly during peak usage periods when system resources are already constrained. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability component of the CIA triad and can be classified under CWE-835, which describes infinite loops or iterations without proper termination conditions.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the privilege escalation and denial of service capabilities within the access control and execution domains. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can maintain authenticated access to the system while simultaneously causing service disruption, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the attacker has legitimate credentials. The vulnerability also relates to the concept of resource exhaustion as outlined in various security frameworks, where the malicious input causes the system to consume excessive computational resources. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual patterns of cookie-based requests that might indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7246 should include immediate patching of affected OpenAM versions to the latest available releases that contain the necessary fixes. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as rate limiting and cookie validation at the perimeter to prevent exploitation attempts before they reach the core server components. Monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual resource consumption patterns or repeated requests with malformed cookies. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar issues within their OpenAM deployments. The implementation of proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms should be enforced across all application components handling user-supplied data. Organizations should also maintain detailed incident response procedures that address denial of service scenarios and ensure proper coordination between security teams and system administrators.