CVE-2021-44033 in Identity Vault
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2021
In Ionic Identity Vault before 5.0.5, the protection mechanism for invalid unlock attempts can be bypassed.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-44033 affects Ionic Identity Vault versions prior to 5.0.5, specifically targeting the security mechanism designed to protect against unauthorized access through invalid unlock attempts. This weakness represents a critical flaw in the authentication system's attempt countermeasure, which is intended to prevent brute force attacks and unauthorized access by limiting the number of failed authentication attempts. The vulnerability resides in the implementation of the lockout mechanism that should enforce protective measures after repeated failed unlock attempts, creating a potential attack vector for malicious actors seeking to gain unauthorized access to protected data within applications built using the Ionic framework.
The technical flaw manifests in the bypass of the intended protection mechanism that should trigger after a predetermined number of invalid unlock attempts have been made. This failure allows attackers to continue attempting to unlock the vault without encountering the expected rate limiting or account lockout behavior that would normally be enforced. The vulnerability essentially undermines the security model by permitting unlimited or significantly increased attempts to unlock the vault, effectively neutralizing the security controls designed to prevent automated attack methods such as password spraying or brute force attacks. This weakness is particularly concerning as it directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive data stored within the vault, potentially exposing applications to unauthorized access and data breaches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass to encompass broader security implications for applications utilizing the Ionic framework. Attackers can exploit this flaw to systematically attempt various unlock combinations without facing the expected security barriers, significantly increasing their chances of successfully accessing protected data. The vulnerability affects the core security principle of authentication controls, potentially allowing threat actors to compromise sensitive information stored in mobile applications built with Ionic Identity Vault. Organizations relying on this framework for securing sensitive data face heightened risk of data exposure, especially in environments where mobile applications handle personal information, financial data, or other confidential assets that require robust protection mechanisms.
The security implications of CVE-2021-44033 align with CWE-307 - Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts, which specifically addresses weaknesses in systems that fail to properly enforce limits on authentication attempts. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1110 - Brute Force, as it enables attackers to conduct brute force attacks against the authentication mechanism without encountering the intended rate limiting controls. The bypass of authentication protection mechanisms represents a fundamental failure in the security architecture, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat landscape assessment, particularly in environments where mobile applications handle sensitive data and where the Ionic framework is used for application development.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Ionic Identity Vault installations to version 5.0.5 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to properly enforce the unlock attempt protection mechanism. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring and logging controls to detect unusual authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network-level controls such as intrusion detection systems and firewall rules can be configured to limit access to authentication endpoints and monitor for repeated failed authentication attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of all applications using Ionic Identity Vault to ensure proper implementation of authentication controls and verify that the updated version has been successfully deployed across all environments. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that provide multiple layers of protection against authentication-related attacks.