CVE-2017-1000406 in OpenDaylight Karaf
Summary
by MITRE
OpenDaylight Karaf 0.6.1-Carbon fails to clear the cache after a password change, allowing the old password to be used until the Karaf cache is manually cleared (e.g. via restart).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2019
OpenDaylight Karaf version 0.6.1-Carbon contains a critical authentication vulnerability that stems from improper session management and cache handling during password modification processes. This flaw represents a classic case of inadequate credential validation and session state cleanup, where the system fails to invalidate existing authentication tokens or cached credentials when a user's password is updated. The vulnerability exists within the Karaf container's authentication subsystem, specifically affecting how the system manages cached authentication contexts and session data following credential changes.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when a user modifies their password through the OpenDaylight management interface or administrative console. Despite the successful password update, the underlying Karaf framework does not properly invalidate the cached authentication entries that were created using the previous credentials. This cache invalidation failure creates a window of opportunity where authenticated sessions remain valid even after the user's password has been changed, effectively allowing unauthorized access using the old credentials until the system cache is manually cleared or the Karaf container is restarted. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core authentication layer of the system, affecting all services that rely on Karaf's authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it creates persistent security risks within network automation and SDN environments where OpenDaylight Karaf serves as the primary control plane. Attackers who gain access to a valid password can continue to maintain access to the system even after password changes have been implemented, undermining the fundamental security principle of credential rotation. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that depend on OpenDaylight for network orchestration and automation, where unauthorized access could lead to complete network compromise. The persistence of this issue until manual cache clearing or system restart means that security administrators may be unaware of ongoing unauthorized access, creating a significant blind spot in security monitoring and incident response procedures.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including regular system restarts to clear authentication caches, enhanced monitoring of authentication events, and implementation of automated processes to detect and respond to potential credential compromise scenarios. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authentication mechanisms, and reflects patterns commonly seen in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and credential access techniques. Security teams should also consider implementing additional authentication controls such as session timeout policies and multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk exposure. The issue demonstrates the critical importance of proper session management in enterprise software systems and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of authentication flows during security assessments and vulnerability management processes.