CVE-2017-11191 in FreeIPA
Summary
by MITRE
FreeIPA 4.x with API version 2.213 allows a remote authenticated users to bypass intended account-locking restrictions via an unlock action with an old session ID (for the same user account) that had been created for an earlier session. NOTE: Vendor states that issue does not exist in product and does not recognize this report as a valid security concern
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-11191 affects FreeIPA version 4.x when utilizing API version 2.213, presenting a significant authentication bypass flaw that undermines the system's account lockout mechanisms. This issue specifically targets the session management and authentication flow within the Identity, Policy, and Audit (IPA) system, which is widely deployed for enterprise identity management and authentication services. The vulnerability exists in how the system handles session IDs and account lockout states, creating a window where authenticated users can circumvent intended security controls.
The technical flaw manifests when a user attempts to unlock their account using an unlock action with an outdated session ID that was previously associated with the same user account. This represents a session management weakness where the system fails to properly validate the current state of authentication sessions against account lockout policies. The vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit the temporal aspect of session handling, where a session ID created during an earlier authentication attempt remains valid long enough to be used for account unlocking operations even after the account has been locked due to failed authentication attempts. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of session invalidation and account state management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass, as it effectively neutralizes the account lockout protection mechanism that serves as a critical defense against brute force attacks and credential stuffing attempts. Attackers can leverage this flaw to repeatedly attempt authentication without triggering account lockouts, potentially leading to successful credential compromise through extended attack windows. The vulnerability undermines the integrity of the authentication system's access control policies, allowing unauthorized continued access attempts that would normally be blocked by the system's built-in account lockout features. This creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited over extended periods without detection.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session management, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in authentication systems. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1110.003, which covers credential stuffing attacks, as the bypass allows for extended credential testing without account lockout enforcement. Organizations using FreeIPA systems may experience increased risk of successful brute force attacks and credential compromise, particularly in environments where account lockout policies are critical for security posture. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple sessions indicates a fundamental flaw in how the system maintains authentication state consistency, potentially affecting other session-based security controls within the IPA framework.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper session invalidation mechanisms, ensuring that session IDs become immediately invalid upon account lockout events, and enforcing strict temporal controls on session validity. System administrators should consider upgrading to patched versions of FreeIPA or implementing additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous account unlock patterns. The vendor's stated position that this issue does not exist in their product highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate such authentication bypass vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring for account unlock activities that occur using session IDs from previous authentication attempts to detect potential exploitation of this flaw.