CVE-2017-12874 in InfoCard Module
Summary
by MITRE
The InfoCard module 1.0 for SimpleSAMLphp allows attackers to spoof XML messages by leveraging an incorrect check of return values in signature validation utilities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12874 resides within the InfoCard module version 1.0 of the SimpleSAMLphp identity management framework, which is widely deployed in enterprise environments for single sign-on and identity federation services. This module implements XML signature validation mechanisms to ensure the integrity and authenticity of identity assertions exchanged between identity providers and service providers. The flaw manifests in the signature validation utilities where an incorrect check of return values leads to a critical security bypass that allows attackers to forge XML messages without proper authentication or authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper error handling within the XML signature validation process. When SimpleSAMLphp processes XML messages containing digital signatures, the validation utilities should rigorously verify that signature checks return successful status codes before accepting the message as authentic. However, the InfoCard module fails to properly validate these return values, creating a condition where malformed or forged signatures may still be accepted as valid. This represents a classic example of a security bypass vulnerability where the system's defensive mechanisms are circumvented through incorrect conditional logic, allowing unauthorized parties to manipulate identity assertions and potentially gain unauthorized access to protected resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple message spoofing, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that identity federation protocols rely upon. Attackers exploiting this weakness can craft forged identity assertions that appear legitimate to the SimpleSAMLphp system, potentially enabling them to impersonate users, gain access to restricted applications, or perform unauthorized transactions within federated environments. The vulnerability affects organizations using SimpleSAMLphp for identity management, particularly those implementing SAML-based single sign-on solutions where identity assertions are critical for access control decisions. This flaw directly impacts the integrity and authenticity guarantees that digital signatures are designed to provide, creating a pathway for man-in-the-middle attacks and credential theft scenarios.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through patch updates provided by SimpleSAMLphp maintainers, as this vulnerability represents a significant risk to identity security infrastructure. The mitigation strategy should include not only applying the vendor-provided fix but also implementing additional monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns and validating the integrity of all identity assertions through secondary verification mechanisms. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive assessments of their identity federation configurations to identify any other potential attack vectors that may have been enabled by this vulnerability. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability may violate security standards such as those outlined in the NIST SP 800-63 identity assurance guidelines, which emphasize the critical importance of proper signature validation and message integrity in identity management systems. The flaw aligns with CWE-284 access control weaknesses and may be leveraged by attackers following techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and credential access tactics, specifically targeting identity and access management systems. Organizations using SimpleSAMLphp should also consider implementing network segmentation and additional authentication layers to reduce the potential blast radius should this vulnerability be exploited in environments where it has not yet been patched.