CVE-2022-0668 in Artifactory
Summary
by MITRE • 01/08/2023
JFrog Artifactory prior to 7.37.13 is vulnerable to Authentication Bypass, which can lead to Privilege Escalation when a specially crafted request is sent by an unauthenticated user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2026
JFrog Artifactory versions prior to 7.37.13 contain a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. This vulnerability stems from improper validation of authentication tokens and session management mechanisms within the application's security framework. The flaw enables malicious actors to craft specially formatted requests that circumvent the standard authentication process, effectively granting them access to systems they should not be able to reach. The vulnerability exists in the way the system handles authentication headers and session tokens, particularly when processing requests that should require valid credentials but instead accept malformed or crafted inputs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a weakness in the authentication middleware where the system fails to properly validate the integrity and authenticity of incoming requests. Attackers can exploit this by sending requests with manipulated authentication tokens or by leveraging specific request patterns that the system incorrectly interprets as valid authenticated sessions. This authentication bypass can be achieved through various methods including token manipulation, header injection, or by exploiting race conditions in session validation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to perform operations that require elevated privileges without proper authentication, potentially enabling them to access confidential data, modify system configurations, or escalate their privileges to administrative levels.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0668 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates a pathway for attackers to establish persistent footholds within the Artifactory environment. Once an attacker successfully bypasses authentication, they can leverage the system to access repositories containing sensitive source code, build artifacts, and configuration files. This vulnerability affects the core security model of Artifactory, which is designed to protect software supply chain assets through robust access controls and authentication mechanisms. The risk is compounded by the fact that Artifactory serves as a central hub for software artifacts and build processes in many organizations, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise software development pipelines. Organizations using vulnerable versions may experience data breaches, supply chain compromises, or unauthorized modifications to critical software components.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and it maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 Valid Accounts for maintaining persistence and T1566 Phishing for initial access. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Artifactory version 7.37.13 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to Artifactory servers, enabling additional authentication layers such as OAuth or LDAP integration, and monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of existing access controls and review system logs for evidence of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authentication validation and the potential consequences when authentication mechanisms are not properly implemented or maintained in enterprise software systems.