CVE-2018-20595 in HSWeb
Summary
by MITRE
A CSRF issue was discovered in web/authorization/oauth2/controller/OAuth2ClientController.java in hsweb 3.0.4 because the state parameter in the request is not compared with the state parameter in the session after user authentication is successful.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20595 represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness within the hsweb 3.0.4 framework, specifically in the OAuth2 client controller component. This flaw resides in the web/authorization/oauth2/controller/OAuth2ClientController.java file where the application fails to properly validate the state parameter during the OAuth2 authentication flow. The state parameter serves as a crucial security mechanism designed to prevent CSRF attacks by ensuring that the authentication request originates from the legitimate application and not from a malicious third party. When the state parameter validation is bypassed, attackers can exploit this weakness to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of OAuth2 state parameters within the authentication flow. During the OAuth2 authorization process, the application generates a state parameter and stores it in the user's session, which should then be compared with the state parameter received in the callback request. However, in hsweb 3.0.4, the system successfully authenticates users but fails to validate that the state parameter in the incoming request matches the one stored in the session. This validation gap creates a window of opportunity for attackers to craft malicious requests that can hijack the authentication flow, potentially leading to unauthorized access to user accounts or sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass scenarios and can result in significant security compromises within applications utilizing the affected framework. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, unauthorized account access, or manipulate user permissions within the affected system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses, and represents a classic example of insufficient validation of security tokens during authentication processes. Organizations using hsweb 3.0.4 may find their OAuth2 implementations vulnerable to attacks that fall under the ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically targeting credential access through social engineering or web application attacks. The flaw particularly affects systems that rely on OAuth2 for third-party authentication, making it a significant concern for enterprise applications and web services that handle sensitive user data.
The remediation approach for CVE-2018-20595 requires immediate implementation of proper state parameter validation within the OAuth2 client controller. Developers must ensure that the state parameter received in the authentication callback is rigorously compared against the one stored in the user session before proceeding with the authentication process. This validation should occur regardless of whether the authentication itself succeeds, as the state parameter serves as a critical security control. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive testing procedures to verify that all OAuth2 implementations properly validate security tokens and consider upgrading to newer versions of the hsweb framework where this vulnerability has been addressed. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of their OAuth2 implementations to identify similar validation gaps in other authentication flows and ensure that all security tokens are properly validated throughout the authentication lifecycle.