CVE-2019-18633 in eIDAS-Node Integration Package
Summary
by MITRE
European Commission eIDAS-Node Integration Package before 2.3.1 has Missing Certificate Validation because a certain ExplicitKeyTrustEvaluator return value is not checked. NOTE: only 2.1 is confirmed to be affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2024
The CVE-2019-18633 vulnerability resides within the European Commission eIDAS-Node Integration Package, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.3.1 with confirmed impact on version 2.1. This security flaw represents a critical certificate validation weakness that undermines the integrity of digital identity verification processes. The vulnerability stems from an insufficient implementation of certificate trust evaluation mechanisms, where the ExplicitKeyTrustEvaluator component fails to properly validate return values during the certificate validation process. This oversight creates a potential attack vector that could allow malicious actors to bypass essential security checks and validate fraudulent certificates.
The technical flaw manifests in the ExplicitKeyTrustEvaluator's improper handling of return values, which should serve as critical checkpoints in the certificate validation workflow. When this component does not adequately verify the outcomes of certificate trust assessments, it allows certificates to be accepted without proper validation of their authenticity and trustworthiness. This weakness directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for credentials from password storage modules. The vulnerability essentially creates a trust validation gap where the system accepts certificates that should have been rejected based on established trust criteria.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple certificate validation failures, potentially compromising the entire digital identity infrastructure that relies on eIDAS compliance. Attackers could exploit this weakness to inject fraudulent certificates into the system, undermining the trust model that eIDAS nodes are designed to maintain. This could result in unauthorized access to protected services, data breaches, and the potential for man-in-the-middle attacks against legitimate users. The implications are particularly severe given that eIDAS nodes are integral to European digital identity frameworks, affecting cross-border digital services and electronic transactions across member states.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate upgrading to version 2.3.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for certificate validation. Organizations must also implement additional monitoring of certificate validation logs to detect any anomalies in trust evaluation processes. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of all eIDAS node configurations to ensure proper certificate validation enforcement. The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring that ExplicitKeyTrustEvaluator return values are properly checked and validated, thereby restoring the intended certificate trust verification workflow. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls around eIDAS nodes can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against potential exploitation attempts.