CVE-2022-1996 in go-restful
Summary
by MITRE • 06/08/2022
Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key in GitHub repository emicklei/go-restful prior to v3.8.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1996 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within the emicklei/go-restful Go library, affecting versions prior to v3.8.0. This issue stems from improper handling of user-controlled keys that can be manipulated to circumvent intended access controls. The vulnerability manifests when applications using this library fail to properly validate or sanitize authentication tokens or keys that are derived from user input, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to protected resources. The flaw exists in the library's approach to processing authentication credentials, specifically when these credentials are constructed using user-supplied data that should be strictly controlled and validated.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a direct violation of access control mechanisms through the manipulation of key-value pairs or authentication parameters that are intended to be immutable or strictly controlled. When user input is directly used to construct authorization keys without proper sanitization or validation, attackers can craft malicious inputs that bypass the intended security checks. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-285 category of Improper Authorization, specifically related to authorization bypass through user-controlled data. The flaw allows adversaries to manipulate the key generation process or directly substitute keys, effectively granting them access to resources that should be restricted to authorized users only. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the library's legitimate functionality to create an unintended access path.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to applications that rely on the emicklei/go-restful library for API endpoint handling and authentication management. Organizations using affected versions of the library may experience unauthorized access to sensitive data, privilege escalation, or complete system compromise depending on the implementation details. The impact extends beyond individual applications to potentially affect entire service ecosystems that depend on proper authentication boundaries. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain access to protected endpoints, manipulate data, or perform actions with elevated privileges that should be restricted to authorized personnel. The vulnerability's exploitation is particularly concerning because it can be automated and does not require specialized knowledge of the underlying system architecture. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing, as the vulnerability enables attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms using legitimate user credentials or manipulated authentication data.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to version 3.8.0 or later of the emicklei/go-restful library where the authorization bypass has been addressed through proper input validation and key handling mechanisms. Organizations should conduct thorough code reviews to identify any custom implementations that might be vulnerable to similar patterns, particularly those that process user-controlled data for authentication purposes. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper input sanitization, validating all authentication parameters, and employing principle of least privilege in API endpoint access controls. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and establishing proper audit trails to detect potential exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in version 3.8.0 typically involves strengthening the validation of user-supplied keys and ensuring that authorization decisions are made based on properly authenticated and validated inputs rather than potentially manipulated user data. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security controls in API frameworks and the need for continuous security assessment of third-party libraries used in application development.