CVE-2019-14820 in KeyCloak
Summary
by MITRE
It was found that keycloak before version 8.0.0 exposes internal adapter endpoints in org.keycloak.constants.AdapterConstants, which can be invoked via a specially-crafted URL. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to access unauthorized information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14820 represents a critical information disclosure flaw in Keycloak versions prior to 8.0.0. This issue stems from the improper exposure of internal adapter endpoints within the Keycloak authentication platform, specifically within the org.keycloak.constants.AdapterConstants package. The flaw allows attackers to access sensitive internal components through specially crafted URLs, bypassing the intended security boundaries that should protect internal system interfaces from external access. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and proper access control implementation within the authentication framework.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through URL manipulation that targets the exposed internal endpoints. Attackers can construct specific URLs that map to the internal adapter constants, gaining unauthorized access to information that should remain confined within the internal system architecture. The exposed endpoints likely contain sensitive configuration data, internal service information, or authentication-related metadata that could be leveraged for further attacks. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure, and represents a classic case of improper information access control. The vulnerability demonstrates poor separation between internal and external interfaces, allowing unauthorized access to components that were never intended to be publicly accessible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked internal information could provide attackers with valuable insights into the system architecture, service endpoints, and potentially authentication mechanisms. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain knowledge about internal service configurations, authentication protocols, or system dependencies that could be used to craft more sophisticated attacks. This information could facilitate subsequent exploitation attempts such as privilege escalation, service enumeration, or targeted attacks against specific internal components. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the information discovery tactic, where adversaries seek to gather information about the target system.
Organizations using Keycloak versions prior to 8.0.0 should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves upgrading to Keycloak version 8.0.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly secure internal adapter endpoints. Additionally, administrators should review and implement proper network segmentation to limit access to Keycloak internal endpoints, even if the upgrade is not immediately possible. Network-level controls such as firewalls and access control lists should be configured to restrict access to internal endpoints to only trusted administrative networks. The implementation of proper endpoint security measures, including URL filtering and access control restrictions, can provide additional layers of protection while the upgrade process is underway. Security monitoring should also be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns to internal endpoints, which could indicate exploitation attempts.