CVE-2018-19971 in Artifactory Pro
Summary
by MITRE
JFrog Artifactory Pro 6.5.9 has Incorrect Access Control.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2023
JFrog Artifactory Pro version 6.5.9 contains a critical access control vulnerability that allows unauthorized users to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain elevated privileges within the system. This vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in the software's authorization framework, enabling attackers to escalate their privileges without proper credentials or permissions. The issue stems from inadequate validation of user roles and access levels during critical operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the access control matrix that governs user permissions within the Artifactory environment. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform operations typically restricted to administrators or users with specific roles, potentially gaining access to sensitive repositories, configuration settings, and system management functions. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication flow where the system fails to properly verify user credentials against established access policies, allowing unauthorized access to protected resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on JFrog Artifactory for software artifact management and repository operations. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to proprietary code repositories, sensitive build artifacts, and critical infrastructure configurations. The attack surface extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise through privilege escalation, allowing attackers to modify repository contents, alter access controls, or deploy malicious artifacts into the software supply chain. This represents a severe threat to software development integrity and organizational security posture.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a version that resolves this access control flaw. Additionally, implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, and conducting regular security assessments of the Artifactory environment can help mitigate potential exploitation. Security teams should also review existing access controls and user permissions to ensure proper least-privilege principles are enforced, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to maintain persistent access to critical software repositories and development infrastructure.