CVE-2020-11658 in API Developer Portal
Summary
by MITRE
CA API Developer Portal 4.3.1 and earlier handles shared secret keys in an insecure manner, which allows attackers to bypass authorization.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-11658 affects CA API Developer Portal versions 4.3.1 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw in how the system manages shared secret keys. This weakness resides in the authorization mechanism of the API portal, which is designed to protect access to developer resources and API endpoints. The insecure handling of shared secrets creates a pathway for unauthorized users to gain access to protected resources without proper authentication, fundamentally undermining the security posture of the platform.
The technical implementation flaw stems from improper management of cryptographic keys used for authentication and authorization purposes. When shared secret keys are handled insecurely, attackers can exploit this weakness to forge legitimate authentication tokens or manipulate the authorization process. This vulnerability falls under the category of weak cryptographic key management practices, which is classified as CWE-327 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The improper handling of these keys typically involves storing them in plaintext, using predictable values, or exposing them through insecure API endpoints where they can be intercepted or extracted by malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on CA API Developer Portal for managing their API ecosystems. Attackers who successfully exploit this weakness can bypass authorization controls and gain access to sensitive API resources, developer credentials, and potentially access to backend systems that depend on these APIs. This unauthorized access could lead to data breaches, API abuse, service disruption, and compromise of the entire API development environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core authentication mechanism, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the system.
Organizations should immediately update to a patched version of CA API Developer Portal to address this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper key rotation policies, ensuring cryptographic keys are stored securely using industry-standard encryption methods, and conducting regular security assessments of authentication mechanisms. Security teams should also monitor for suspicious access patterns and implement additional layers of authentication such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of potential key compromise. This vulnerability aligns with attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and privilege escalation categories, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures beyond simple patch management. Organizations should also review their API security posture and implement proper key management practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of their API infrastructure.