CVE-2019-9733 in Artifactory
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in JFrog Artifactory 6.7.3. By default, the access-admin account is used to reset the password of the admin account in case an administrator gets locked out from the Artifactory console. This is only allowable from a connection directly from localhost, but providing a X-Forwarded-For HTTP header to the request allows an unauthenticated user to login with the default credentials of the access-admin account while bypassing the whitelist of allowed IP addresses. The access-admin account can use Artifactory's API to request authentication tokens for all users including the admin account and, in turn, assume full control of all artifacts and repositories managed by Artifactory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9733 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in JFrog Artifactory version 6.7.3 that fundamentally undermines the security posture of the artifact repository system. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative account recovery mechanism that is designed to prevent lockout scenarios when administrators lose access to their accounts. The default access-admin account serves as a safety net for administrators who become locked out of the Artifactory console, but this mechanism was implemented with a critical design flaw that allows unauthorized access through manipulation of HTTP headers. The security model relies on IP address whitelisting to ensure that the access-admin account can only be used from localhost connections, which is a standard security practice to prevent remote exploitation of administrative functions. However, this protection mechanism can be circumvented through the strategic manipulation of the X-Forwarded-For HTTP header, which is commonly used in web applications that operate behind reverse proxies or load balancers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated header manipulation technique that allows an attacker to spoof their network location and appear as if they are connecting from localhost. This manipulation effectively bypasses the intended IP address restrictions that should prevent remote access to the administrative recovery account. The access-admin account, while intended for emergency use only, possesses extensive privileges within the Artifactory system including the ability to generate authentication tokens for any user account, including the highly privileged admin account. This capability creates a direct path to complete system compromise, as the access-admin account can essentially impersonate any user within the system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows unauthenticated attackers to gain administrative privileges without requiring any prior authentication credentials, making it a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited from any network location.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over all artifacts and repositories managed by Artifactory. This includes the ability to modify, delete, or exfiltrate sensitive code repositories, configuration files, and binary artifacts that organizations rely upon for their software development and deployment processes. The compromise of the admin account through this vulnerability means that attackers can manipulate access controls, create backdoors, modify build configurations, and potentially inject malicious code into the software supply chain. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations that must maintain audit trails and demonstrate proper access controls over their software artifacts. The vulnerability also has implications for supply chain security, as compromised repositories can affect downstream consumers who trust the integrity of the artifacts they download. Organizations using Artifactory for critical software development operations face potential data breaches, intellectual property theft, and disruption of their software development workflows.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate exploitation vector and the underlying architectural issues that allowed the bypass to occur. Organizations should implement immediate network-level restrictions to prevent manipulation of the X-Forwarded-For header through proxy configurations and firewall rules. The recommended approach includes disabling or carefully restricting the use of X-Forwarded-For headers for authentication-related requests, as well as implementing strict header validation mechanisms. Security teams should also consider disabling the access-admin account functionality entirely if it is not required for their operational environment, or ensure that it is only accessible through secure, isolated network segments. Additionally, organizations should implement robust monitoring and alerting for authentication attempts and privilege escalation activities within their Artifactory systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege, as the access-admin account should never be accessible through network-based attacks. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers can leverage the compromised administrative account to maintain persistent access and potentially use social engineering techniques to expand their access. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of secure header handling and the need for proper input validation in web applications, particularly those handling authentication functions. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts and regularly audit their access control configurations to prevent similar issues in other systems.