CVE-2021-40087 in EJBCA
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2021
An issue was discovered in PrimeKey EJBCA before 7.6.0. When audit logging changes to the alias configurations of various protocols that use an enrollment secret, any modifications to the secret were logged in cleartext in the audit log (that can only be viewed by an administrator). This affects use of any of the following protocols: SCEP, CMP, or EST.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2021-40087 represents a critical security flaw in PrimeKey EJBCA version 7.6.0 and earlier, where sensitive cryptographic secrets are improperly handled during audit logging operations. This issue specifically impacts the system's audit logging mechanism when changes are made to alias configurations for protocols that rely on enrollment secrets, creating a significant exposure risk for organizations relying on these security services. The flaw occurs within the audit logging subsystem where administrative modifications to secret values are recorded without proper obfuscation or encryption, potentially exposing sensitive information to unauthorized parties who might gain administrative access to the audit logs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of sensitive data within the audit logging framework. When administrators modify enrollment secrets for protocols such as SCEP (Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol), CMP (Certificate Management Protocol), or EST (Enrollment over Secure Transport), the system records these changes in the audit log database. However, the logging mechanism fails to mask or encrypt the actual secret values, resulting in cleartext exposure of these sensitive credentials. This represents a direct violation of data protection principles and demonstrates a failure in proper information security controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-532, which addresses information exposure through logging, and specifically targets the improper handling of sensitive data within audit systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors who gain administrative access to the system. Attackers with privileged access to audit logs could extract enrollment secrets, potentially enabling them to impersonate legitimate users or systems within the certificate management infrastructure. This exposure could lead to unauthorized certificate issuance, man-in-the-middle attacks, or complete compromise of the PKI infrastructure that relies on these protocols. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the entire certificate management ecosystem, as the enrollment secrets serve as critical authentication mechanisms for protocol operations.
Organizations implementing PrimeKey EJBCA should prioritize immediate remediation through the upgrade to version 7.6.0 or later, which addresses this vulnerability through proper secret masking in audit logs. Additional mitigations include implementing strict access controls for audit log viewing capabilities, establishing monitoring procedures for unauthorized access attempts, and conducting regular security assessments of the certificate management infrastructure. The remediation process should also include reviewing and updating audit log retention policies to ensure sensitive information is properly handled. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1562.006 (Impair Defenses - Credential Access) and T1070.001 (Indicator Removal on Host - Clear Windows Event Logs), as it creates opportunities for attackers to extract credentials through compromised administrative access. Organizations should also consider implementing additional logging and monitoring controls to detect potential unauthorized access to audit systems, as the vulnerability demonstrates a failure in privileged access controls and audit trail integrity.