CVE-2019-3794 in Cloud Foundry UAA
Summary
by MITRE
Cloud Foundry UAA, versions prior to v73.4.0, does not set an X-FRAME-OPTIONS header on various endpoints. A remote user can perform clickjacking attacks on UAA's frontend sites.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2023
The Cloud Foundry User Account and Authentication (UAA) service represents a critical component in cloud infrastructure security, serving as the central authentication and authorization system for cloud platforms. When examining CVE-2019-3794, the vulnerability manifests as a missing security header configuration that fundamentally weakens the protection of user sessions and authentication interfaces. This flaw affects all versions prior to v73.4.0 of the UAA service, creating a persistent security gap that malicious actors can exploit to compromise user authentication processes. The absence of proper frame options configuration creates an environment where attackers can manipulate web browsers to render UAA interfaces within malicious frames, effectively undermining the security posture of the entire cloud platform ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the lack of X-FRAME-OPTIONS header enforcement across multiple UAA endpoints. This header serves as a crucial defense mechanism that instructs web browsers whether to allow a page to be displayed within an iframe, frame, or object element. Without this header, browsers default to allowing frame embedding, creating opportunities for clickjacking attacks where attackers can overlay transparent or opaque elements over legitimate authentication interfaces. The flaw aligns with CWE-1021, which specifically addresses insufficient protection against clickjacking attacks through missing or improperly configured frame options headers. This vulnerability directly enables attackers to craft malicious web pages that embed legitimate UAA login interfaces, tricking users into performing actions they did not intend, potentially leading to session hijacking or credential theft.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypasses, creating a comprehensive threat vector that can compromise entire cloud environments. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can perform sophisticated clickjacking campaigns against authenticated users, potentially stealing session cookies, credentials, or performing unauthorized administrative actions within the UAA system. The attack surface includes all UAA frontend interfaces that handle user authentication, authorization, and account management functions. This vulnerability particularly affects cloud platforms where UAA serves as the primary identity management system, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges within the cloud infrastructure. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 - Account Access Removal and T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it enables attackers to manipulate user sessions through web-based exploitation techniques.
Organizations utilizing Cloud Foundry UAA services must implement immediate remediation measures to address this vulnerability, including updating to version 73.4.0 or later where the X-FRAME-OPTIONS header is properly configured. The mitigation strategy should involve comprehensive security testing of all UAA endpoints to verify header implementation and ensure no remaining vulnerable interfaces exist. Security teams should also implement additional monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns that might indicate clickjacking attempts. Network segmentation and additional web application firewall rules can provide layered protection while the primary update is being deployed. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper security header implementation in modern web applications and highlights how seemingly minor configuration gaps can create substantial security risks in identity management systems. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers as additional protection against similar vulnerabilities in their cloud infrastructure components.