CVE-2018-1080 in PKI
Summary
by MITRE
Dogtag PKI, through version 10.6.1, has a vulnerability in AAclAuthz.java that, under certain configurations, causes the application of ACL allow and deny rules to be reversed. If a server is configured to process allow rules before deny rules (authz.evaluateOrder=allow,deny), then allow rules will deny access and deny rules will grant access. This may result in an escalation of privileges or have other unintended consequences.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1080 affects the Dogtag PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) software ecosystem, specifically impacting versions through 10.6.1. This security flaw resides within the AAclAuthz.java component, which governs access control list authorization mechanisms. The issue manifests as a critical reversal of access control logic that fundamentally undermines the security posture of systems relying on this PKI implementation. The vulnerability represents a classic case of improper access control where the expected behavior of authorization rules becomes completely inverted, creating a dangerous security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from a flawed implementation in how access control rules are evaluated within the authorization subsystem. When administrators configure the system with authz.evaluateOrder=allow,deny, they expect that allow rules will be processed first to grant permissions, followed by deny rules to restrict access. However, due to the bug in AAclAuthz.java, this configuration produces the exact opposite behavior where allow rules function as deny mechanisms and deny rules function as allow mechanisms. This inversion creates a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and can lead to unauthorized access to protected resources. The flaw operates at the core authorization logic level, making it particularly dangerous as it affects the foundational security controls of the PKI infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple access control failures and can result in significant security escalation. Systems configured with this bug may inadvertently grant access to unauthorized users who should be denied access, while simultaneously blocking legitimate users who should be granted access. This creates confusion in access control policies and can lead to both privilege escalation attacks and denial of service scenarios. The vulnerability affects any organization using Dogtag PKI with specific authorization configurations, potentially compromising the integrity of certificate management systems, user authentication processes, and overall PKI trust infrastructure. Organizations relying on this software for security-critical operations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive certificate data, certificate signing operations, and administrative functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1080 require immediate attention and systematic approach to address the core authorization logic flaw. Organizations should first identify all systems running affected Dogtag PKI versions and assess their current authorization configurations. The most effective immediate fix involves either upgrading to a patched version of Dogtag PKI or implementing workarounds that avoid the problematic authz.evaluateOrder=allow,deny configuration. Security administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of access control policies to identify any anomalous access patterns that may have occurred due to the reversed rule behavior. Additionally, implementing monitoring and logging of authorization decisions becomes critical to detect any unauthorized access attempts that may have succeeded due to this vulnerability. This issue aligns with CWE-284 Access Control flaws and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it may enable attackers to escalate privileges through manipulated access controls. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authorization logic implementation and highlights the need for thorough testing of security controls in authentication and authorization systems.