CVE-2019-20138 in HTTP Authentication Library
Summary
by MITRE
The HTTP Authentication library before 2019-12-27 for Nim has weak password hashing because the default algorithm for libsodium's crypto_pwhash_str is not used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20138 affects the HTTP Authentication library in Nim programming language versions prior to the December 27, 2019 release. This issue stems from the library's implementation of password hashing mechanisms that fail to utilize the recommended cryptographic standards for password storage. The vulnerability specifically relates to the use of libsodium's crypto_pwhash_str function without employing its default algorithm, which creates a significant security weakness in the authentication system.
The technical flaw manifests in the library's password hashing implementation where it does not leverage the secure default parameters of libsodium's password hashing function. This function is designed to be computationally expensive and resistant to brute-force attacks through the use of memory-hard algorithms. When the default algorithm is not applied, the system may fall back to less secure alternatives or improperly configured parameters that significantly reduce the computational cost required for password cracking attempts. The weakness creates a direct path for attackers to perform more efficient password recovery operations against stored credentials.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes systems relying on the Nim HTTP Authentication library to increased risk of credential compromise. Attackers can exploit the weak password hashing to conduct faster password cracking campaigns using rainbow tables or brute-force approaches that would normally be infeasible against properly implemented password hashing. The vulnerability affects any application or service that stores user passwords using this library, potentially leading to unauthorized access to user accounts, data breaches, and broader system compromise. Organizations using affected versions face heightened risk during authentication processes and credential recovery operations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-916, which addresses weak password hashing algorithms, and represents a failure to implement proper cryptographic practices in authentication systems. From an adversarial perspective, this weakness maps to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation tactics, where adversaries seek to obtain valid credentials through various means including password cracking and brute-force attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security hygiene in cryptographic implementation and highlights the importance of using well-vetted, standardized cryptographic functions with their recommended parameters.
Mitigation strategies should focus on upgrading to the patched version of the Nim HTTP Authentication library released after December 27, 2019, which properly implements libsodium's crypto_pwhash_str with its default secure parameters. Organizations should also conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify all systems using affected library versions and ensure proper cryptographic implementation across authentication mechanisms. Security teams should implement monitoring for authentication-related activities and consider additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of potential credential compromise. Regular security assessments of cryptographic implementations and adherence to security standards like NIST SP 800-63B for password management practices should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future deployments.