CVE-2017-8028 in Retail Invoice Matching
Summary
by MITRE
In Pivotal Spring-LDAP versions 1.3.0 - 2.3.1, when connected to some LDAP servers, when no additional attributes are bound, and when using LDAP BindAuthenticator with org.springframework.ldap.core.support.DefaultTlsDirContextAuthenticationStrategy as the authentication strategy, and setting userSearch, authentication is allowed with an arbitrary password when the username is correct. This occurs because some LDAP vendors require an explicit operation for the LDAP bind to take effect.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8028 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in Pivotal Spring-LDAP library versions ranging from 1.3.0 through 2.3.1. This issue specifically affects applications that implement LDAP authentication using the BindAuthenticator component alongside the DefaultTlsDirContextAuthenticationStrategy for TLS connections. The flaw stems from improper handling of LDAP bind operations within certain LDAP server implementations, creating a scenario where legitimate authentication can be bypassed through flawed credential validation logic.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in how the Spring-LDAP library manages LDAP bind operations when connecting to specific LDAP server vendors. When using the BindAuthenticator with the DefaultTlsDirContextAuthenticationStrategy and configuring userSearch parameters, the library fails to properly execute the LDAP bind operation that should validate credentials. This occurs because certain LDAP vendors require an explicit bind operation to be performed before authentication can be properly validated. The library's implementation does not adequately handle this requirement, leading to a situation where a valid username can authenticate successfully even when provided with an incorrect password.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant security risk for applications relying on Spring-LDAP for LDAP authentication. Attackers can exploit this flaw by simply knowing a valid username within the LDAP directory, allowing them to authenticate to the application regardless of the password provided. This effectively undermines the entire authentication mechanism and can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive application resources and data. The impact extends beyond simple credential guessing as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the authentication process that can be exploited by both internal and external threat actors.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering. Organizations using affected Spring-LDAP versions face potential compromise of their entire authentication infrastructure, as the flaw allows attackers to bypass password validation entirely. The risk is particularly severe in environments where LDAP serves as the primary authentication mechanism for enterprise applications, database access, or system administration interfaces. Security teams should immediately assess their application environments for the presence of vulnerable Spring-LDAP versions and implement immediate mitigations through patching or code modifications that ensure proper LDAP bind operation handling.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Spring-LDAP versions that have addressed this vulnerability, specifically versions beyond 2.3.1. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication layers, such as multi-factor authentication, to reduce the impact of potential credential compromise. Code modifications may be necessary to ensure that LDAP bind operations are properly executed and validated before authentication is considered successful. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.