CVE-2019-1020002 in Pterodactyl
Summary
by MITRE
Pterodactyl before 0.7.14 with 2FA allows credential sniffing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1020002 affects Pterodactyl panel versions prior to 0.7.14 and specifically relates to the implementation of two-factor authentication mechanisms. This security flaw enables attackers to perform credential sniffing attacks against users who have enabled two-factor authentication on their accounts. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication tokens and session management during the two-factor authentication process, creating opportunities for attackers to intercept and exploit authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves weaknesses in how the Pterodactyl panel manages authentication flows when users attempt to log in with two-factor authentication enabled. Attackers can exploit this by intercepting network traffic between the user's browser and the Pterodactyl server during the authentication process. The flaw allows for the extraction of authentication tokens and session identifiers that should remain protected within secure communication channels. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which describes the exposure of sensitive information through improper handling of authentication credentials, and CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper handling of communication channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it undermines the fundamental security premise of two-factor authentication. When users believe they are protected by an additional authentication layer, attackers can still bypass this protection through credential sniffing techniques. This creates a false sense of security for users while simultaneously providing attackers with access to potentially sensitive user accounts and system resources. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on Pterodactyl for hosting and server management services, where compromised accounts could lead to unauthorized access to virtual machines and server resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Pterodactyl installations to version 0.7.14 or later, which includes corrected authentication handling and improved session management. Organizations should also implement network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate credential sniffing attempts. The implementation of secure communication protocols such as TLS 1.3 and proper certificate management can help prevent interception of authentication data. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous authentication behavior and alert administrators to potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authentication flow implementation and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential access through phishing and social engineering methods that exploit authentication system weaknesses.