CVE-2017-15702 in Qpid Broker-J
Summary
by MITRE
In Apache Qpid Broker-J 0.18 through 0.32, if the broker is configured with different authentication providers on different ports one of which is an HTTP port, then the broker can be tricked by a remote unauthenticated attacker connecting to the HTTP port into using an authentication provider that was configured on a different port. The attacker still needs valid credentials with the authentication provider on the spoofed port. This becomes an issue when the spoofed port has weaker authentication protection (e.g., anonymous access, default accounts) and is normally protected by firewall rules or similar which can be circumvented by this vulnerability. AMQP ports are not affected. Versions 6.0.0 and newer are not affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15702 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in Apache Qpid Broker-J versions ranging from 0.18 through 0.32. This issue stems from improper authentication provider selection mechanisms within the broker's configuration management system, specifically affecting HTTP port configurations where multiple authentication providers are defined across different network endpoints. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated deception mechanism that exploits the broker's trust relationship between different port configurations, creating a scenario where remote attackers can manipulate the authentication flow by connecting to HTTP ports that have been configured with authentication providers intended for other ports. The flaw resides in the broker's inability to properly isolate authentication contexts between different network endpoints, allowing cross-port authentication provider leakage that fundamentally undermines the security boundaries established by administrators.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the broker's HTTP port handling to redirect authentication requests through unintended pathways, where the system defaults to using authentication providers configured for other ports rather than the HTTP port's designated authentication mechanism. This misconfiguration creates a situation where an attacker can exploit the broker's authentication flow by simply connecting to the HTTP port, even without valid credentials for the primary authentication provider. The vulnerability specifically targets HTTP ports that are configured with less secure authentication mechanisms such as anonymous access or default credentials, while the spoofed authentication provider might be configured with stronger security measures. This creates a dangerous scenario where attackers can circumvent firewall protections and access systems that were designed to be protected by stronger authentication controls on different ports, effectively bypassing network-level security controls through application-level manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass, creating significant risks for organizations that rely on network segmentation and port-based security controls. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to systems that were normally protected by firewall rules or other network-level protections, as the vulnerability allows them to effectively spoof authentication providers across different network endpoints. This creates a scenario where systems that were configured with different security levels on different ports become vulnerable to attacks that would normally be blocked by network security controls. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where default accounts or anonymous access is enabled on HTTP ports, as these configurations are often less protected than AMQP ports, which are not affected by this vulnerability according to the advisory. This creates a potential attack vector where attackers can leverage weaker HTTP port configurations to access systems that should be protected by stronger authentication mechanisms on other ports.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations that involve upgrading to Apache Qpid Broker-J version 6.0.0 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to prevent authentication provider leakage between different ports. Alternative mitigations include reconfiguring broker deployments to ensure that HTTP ports do not share authentication providers with other ports, implementing strict network segmentation controls that prevent direct access to HTTP ports from untrusted networks, and disabling HTTP port access where possible. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of their broker configurations to identify any instances where authentication providers are shared across different ports, particularly focusing on HTTP ports that may have weaker authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authentication isolation and the potential for cross-port authentication manipulation to create security gaps that can be exploited by attackers. This issue aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control and ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials for persistence and privilege escalation. Organizations must also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging controls to detect potential exploitation attempts of this vulnerability, as the attack requires minimal credentials but can result in significant unauthorized access to systems that were previously protected by network-level controls.