CVE-2022-22700 in Identity
Summary
by MITRE • 03/03/2022
CyberArk Identity versions up to and including 22.1 in the 'StartAuthentication' resource, exposes the response header 'X-CFY-TX-TM'. In certain configurations, that response header contains different, predictable value ranges which can be used to determine whether a user exists in the tenant.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-22700 affects CyberArk Identity versions up to and including 22.1, specifically within the StartAuthentication resource. This issue represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that undermines the security posture of authentication systems by exposing predictable response header values. The flaw resides in how the system handles authentication requests and reveals internal state information through the X-CFY-TX-TM response header, creating a pathway for unauthorized enumeration of user accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the predictable nature of the X-CFY-TX-TM header values generated during the authentication process. When the StartAuthentication endpoint processes requests, it includes this header in responses with values that follow specific, discernible patterns. These patterns correlate directly to the existence of user accounts within the system, allowing attackers to perform user enumeration attacks by analyzing the header values. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the authentication flow, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited during passive reconnaissance phases.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to conduct user enumeration campaigns without requiring valid credentials or triggering suspicious activity alerts. The predictable value ranges in the X-CFY-TX-TM header create a reliable method for determining account existence, which can serve as a foundation for subsequent attacks including credential stuffing, brute force attempts, and targeted phishing campaigns. Security teams face the challenge of detecting this type of information disclosure because it occurs during legitimate authentication processes, making it difficult to distinguish between normal operation and malicious activity. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and weakens the overall security architecture by providing attackers with valuable intelligence about the target environment.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2022-22700 requires immediate patching of affected CyberArk Identity versions to 22.2 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper header value generation and response handling. Organizations should also implement network-level monitoring to detect anomalous authentication patterns and establish proper access controls for authentication endpoints. Additionally, security teams should review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly identify and respond to potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and represents a significant concern for organizations using CyberArk Identity, as it provides attackers with a straightforward method to gather intelligence about user populations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a reconnaissance technique under T1590 (Cloud Infrastructure Discovery) and T1589 (Cloud Service Discovery), emphasizing its role in initial attack phase reconnaissance activities.