CVE-2019-14867 in Ipa
Summary
by MITRE
A flaw was found in IPA, all 4.6.x versions before 4.6.7, all 4.7.x versions before 4.7.4 and all 4.8.x versions before 4.8.3, in the way the internal function ber_scanf() was used in some components of the IPA server, which parsed kerberos key data. An unauthenticated attacker who could trigger parsing of the krb principal key could cause the IPA server to crash or in some conditions, cause arbitrary code to be executed on the server hosting the IPA server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14867 represents a critical security flaw within the Identity, Policy, and Audit (IPA) server software ecosystem. This issue affects multiple major versions including 4.6.x prior to 4.6.7, 4.7.x prior to 4.7.4, and 4.8.x prior to 4.8.3, demonstrating the widespread impact across the IPA software lifecycle. The vulnerability specifically targets the internal ber_scanf() function which serves as a crucial component in parsing kerberos principal key data within IPA server operations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper input validation and handling within the ber_scanf() function implementation. This function processes binary data encoded in Basic Encoding Rules (BER) format, which is fundamental to LDAP and Kerberos protocols used by IPA for authentication and identity management. When unauthenticated attackers can manipulate the kerberos principal key data that flows through this parsing function, they can exploit memory handling flaws that lead to either denial of service through server crashes or more severe arbitrary code execution capabilities. The vulnerability manifests when the IPA server processes malformed or specially crafted kerberos key data during authentication or key management operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-14867 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable full system compromise. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to the IPA server infrastructure, potentially leading to credential theft, unauthorized privilege escalation, or complete system takeover. This risk is particularly concerning given that IPA servers typically serve as central identity management points within enterprise environments, making them attractive targets for adversaries seeking persistent access. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and the attack surface maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms through authentication system compromise.
Organizations utilizing IPA server software must implement immediate remediation measures to address this vulnerability. The primary mitigation involves upgrading to patched versions of IPA software, specifically versions 4.6.7, 4.7.4, and 4.8.3 respectively. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of IPA servers to untrusted networks. Monitoring for unusual authentication patterns or service disruptions should be enhanced, particularly when dealing with kerberos principal key management operations. Additional defensive measures include implementing intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed BER data patterns and establishing robust patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all IPA server instances within the enterprise infrastructure.