CVE-2020-1718 in KeyCloak
Summary
by MITRE
A flaw was found in the reset credential flow in all Keycloak versions before 8.0.0. This flaw allows an attacker to gain unauthorized access to the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-1718 represents a critical weakness in the Keycloak identity and access management platform that affects all versions prior to 8.0.0. This flaw exists within the credential reset functionality, which is a fundamental component designed to allow users to recover their access when they lose or forget their credentials. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and authorization checks during the credential reset process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's authentication mechanisms. Keycloak, being a widely adopted open source identity provider used by numerous organizations for single sign-on and identity management, makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could potentially compromise large-scale authentication systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the credential reset flow by exploiting missing validation controls that should normally verify the legitimacy of reset requests. Specifically, the flaw enables unauthorized access by permitting attackers to bypass normal authentication requirements and potentially reset credentials for arbitrary user accounts without proper authorization. This weakness can be categorized under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential access through social engineering and manipulation of authentication systems. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple credential theft as it can enable attackers to assume the identity of legitimate users and potentially escalate privileges within the system.
The operational consequences of CVE-2020-1718 are severe and multifaceted, particularly for organizations relying on Keycloak for their identity management infrastructure. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain persistent access to applications protected by Keycloak, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized administrative access. The attack surface is broad since Keycloak is integrated into numerous applications and services, making the impact of exploitation widespread. Organizations using vulnerable versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive systems, particularly those where Keycloak manages access to critical business applications. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require advanced technical skills, making it accessible to threat actors across different skill levels and increasing the probability of successful attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-1718 primarily involve immediate upgrading to Keycloak version 8.0.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the credential reset flow vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including monitoring for unusual credential reset activities, implementing rate limiting on reset requests, and strengthening the validation mechanisms for reset tokens. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their Keycloak configurations to ensure proper implementation of multi-factor authentication and additional verification steps. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the updated system to ensure that legitimate credential reset functionality continues to operate correctly while the vulnerability is patched. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other authentication systems throughout the organization's infrastructure.