CVE-2015-1401 in LDAP SSO Authentication
Summary
by MITRE
Improper Authentication vulnerability in the "LDAP / SSO Authentication" (ig_ldap_sso_auth) extension 2.0.0 for TYPO3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2019
The CVE-2015-11401 vulnerability represents a critical improper authentication flaw within the LDAP/SSO Authentication extension for TYPO3 version 2.0.0, specifically affecting the ig_ldap_sso_auth module. This vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user credentials and authentication tokens during the single sign-on process, creating a significant security weakness that could allow unauthorized access to protected systems. The flaw exists in how the extension handles authentication requests and processes user identity verification, potentially enabling attackers to bypass legitimate authentication mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the extension's failure to properly validate the authentication flow between the TYPO3 CMS and external LDAP servers. When users attempt to authenticate through the LDAP/SSO mechanism, the extension does not adequately verify the authenticity of the authentication tokens or credentials provided by the LDAP server. This weakness can be exploited through various attack vectors including credential stuffing, session hijacking, or man-in-the-middle attacks that manipulate the authentication process. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to craft malicious authentication requests that appear legitimate to the TYPO3 system while bypassing proper credential verification.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations relying on TYPO3 for their content management and user authentication. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw could gain unauthorized access to administrative panels, user accounts, and sensitive content management systems. The implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data breaches, privilege escalation, and complete system compromise. Organizations using this vulnerable extension may experience unauthorized modifications to website content, user data exposure, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where TYPO3 serves as a critical component of their web presence and user management systems.
The flaw aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication vulnerabilities, specifically targeting weak authentication mechanisms that allow unauthorized access. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials for unauthorized access. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of the ig_ldap_sso_auth extension, implementing additional authentication layers, and conducting comprehensive security audits of their TYPO3 installations. Security measures should include monitoring authentication logs for suspicious activities, implementing multi-factor authentication, and ensuring proper access controls are in place. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to the latest stable version of the extension that addresses the authentication validation issues and implementing network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces.