CVE-2015-5217 in Identity Provider Server
Summary
by MITRE
providers/saml2/admin.py in the Identity Provider (IdP) server in Ipsilon 0.1.0 before 1.0.1 does not properly check permissions to update the SAML2 Service Provider (SP) owner, which allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service via a duplicate SP name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5217 resides within the Identity Provider server component of Ipsilon version 0.1.0 through 1.0.0, specifically in the providers/saml2/admin.py file. This flaw represents a critical security oversight that undermines the integrity of the SAML2 identity management system by permitting unauthorized modification of service provider configurations. The vulnerability manifests as a permission validation failure that allows authenticated attackers to manipulate the ownership attributes of SAML2 Service Providers, creating a pathway for service disruption and potential system compromise. The affected system operates within the broader context of identity and access management frameworks where proper authorization controls are essential for maintaining system integrity and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive configuration parameters.
The technical implementation flaw stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the administrative interface of the Ipsilon IdP server. When remote authenticated users attempt to update SAML2 Service Provider ownership information, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses adequate privileges to perform such operations. This misconfiguration creates a condition where attackers can exploit the administrative interface to manipulate SP ownership data, particularly by submitting duplicate SP names that trigger system instability. The vulnerability specifically affects the permission checking logic in the SAML2 administrative module, where proper authorization boundaries are not enforced during ownership update operations. The flaw operates at the application layer and requires authentication credentials to exploit, making it a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be leveraged for denial of service attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential system instability and unauthorized configuration changes that could compromise the entire identity federation infrastructure. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can cause denial of service conditions by creating duplicate service provider entries that may trigger system crashes, resource exhaustion, or configuration conflicts within the IdP server. The vulnerability's exploitation capability allows for persistent disruption of identity services, affecting legitimate users and potentially enabling further attacks against the federated identity ecosystem. Given that SAML2 identity providers serve as critical infrastructure components in enterprise and government environments, this vulnerability poses significant risk to the availability and integrity of identity management services, potentially affecting thousands of users who depend on the federated authentication system for access to protected resources.
Organizations affected by CVE-2015-5217 should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Ipsilon version 1.0.1 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper permission validation controls. The fix implemented in the patched version enforces strict authorization checks before allowing updates to SAML2 Service Provider ownership attributes, ensuring that only authorized administrators can modify critical configuration parameters. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforcing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and conducting regular security assessments of identity management systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses insufficient access control, and represents a specific instance of improper privilege management within identity federation systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent access to identity infrastructure and disrupt critical services within the organization's authentication ecosystem.