CVE-2019-10199 in KeyCloak
Summary
by MITRE
It was found that Keycloak's account console, up to 6.0.1, did not perform adequate header checks in some requests. An attacker could use this flaw to trick an authenticated user into performing operations via request from an untrusted domain.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10199 affects Keycloak versions up to 6.0.1 and represents a critical security flaw in the account console implementation. This issue stems from insufficient header validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the origin of incoming requests. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and authorization processes within Keycloak's web interface, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate user sessions and perform unauthorized operations. The flaw exists in the way the system handles HTTP headers, particularly those related to referer and origin validation, which are essential for maintaining secure cross-origin request handling. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from trusted sources while actually being generated from untrusted domains.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the lack of proper header sanitization and validation within Keycloak's account console functionality. When users authenticate and interact with the console, the system should verify that requests are coming from legitimate sources and that the referer headers match expected domains. However, the flawed implementation fails to enforce these checks adequately, allowing attackers to manipulate the HTTP header values to bypass security controls. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of insecure header validation as defined by CWE-614, which specifically addresses the insufficient validation of headers that can lead to cross-site request forgery and session manipulation attacks. The vulnerability creates a dangerous scenario where authenticated users may unknowingly perform operations that they did not intend to execute, as the system fails to validate the true source of the requests.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-10199 extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential session hijacking, unauthorized privilege escalation, and manipulation of user account settings. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to perform actions such as changing user passwords, modifying account configurations, or accessing sensitive information within the Keycloak console. The attack vector leverages the trust relationship between the user and the system, making it particularly dangerous because users are typically unaware that they are being manipulated into performing malicious actions. This vulnerability directly aligns with the attack patterns described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1548.002 technique for Abuse of Cloud Infrastructure, where attackers exploit misconfigurations to gain unauthorized access to cloud-based identity management systems. The flaw essentially undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the authentication process, allowing attackers to manipulate authenticated sessions through carefully crafted requests that bypass normal security controls.
Organizations using Keycloak versions prior to 6.0.2 should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary solution involves updating to Keycloak version 6.0.2 or later, which includes proper header validation mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should review and implement proper HTTP header configurations including strict referer policies and origin validation. The mitigation strategy should also include monitoring for suspicious header patterns and implementing additional layers of authentication verification. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their Keycloak deployments to ensure that no other similar header validation issues exist within the system. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and header sanitization in web applications, particularly in identity management systems where the stakes of security breaches are exceptionally high. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation oversights in security controls can create significant attack surfaces that compromise entire authentication ecosystems.