CVE-2022-23720 in PingID
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2022
PingID Windows Login prior to 2.8 does not alert or halt operation if it has been provisioned with the full permissions PingID properties file. An IT administrator could mistakenly deploy administrator privileged PingID API credentials, such as those typically used by PingFederate, into PingID Windows Login user endpoints. Using sensitive full permissions properties file outside of a privileged trust boundary leads to an increased risk of exposure or discovery, and an attacker could leverage these credentials to perform administrative actions against PingID APIs or endpoints.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2022-23720 represents a critical privilege escalation risk within PingID Windows Login implementations prior to version 2.8. This issue stems from inadequate credential validation and operational security controls that fail to detect or prevent the deployment of overly privileged API credentials within user endpoint configurations. The root cause lies in the absence of proper permission checking mechanisms that should verify whether the credentials being provisioned possess administrative privileges before allowing their installation on Windows login endpoints.
The technical flaw manifests when IT administrators inadvertently configure PingID Windows Login with full administrative permissions properties files that are typically reserved for privileged systems like PingFederate. These credentials, when deployed on user endpoints, create a dangerous situation where standard user machines become potential entry points for attackers to execute administrative actions against PingID infrastructure. The vulnerability creates a trust boundary violation where sensitive credentials intended for privileged operations are exposed in environments where they should not reside, fundamentally undermining the principle of least privilege.
This security weakness has significant operational impact as it allows attackers to leverage compromised user endpoints to gain administrative access to PingID systems. The risk increases exponentially when considering that Windows login endpoints are typically less secured than dedicated administrative systems, making them attractive targets for initial compromise. Attackers could potentially use these credentials to modify user accounts, access sensitive authentication data, or even disable security controls within the PingID ecosystem, leading to widespread compromise of the authentication infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing. Organizations should immediately implement mandatory credential validation checks that verify permission levels before deployment, enforce strict segregation between privileged and user endpoints, and conduct regular audits of credential usage. The recommended mitigation includes upgrading to PingID Windows Login version 2.8 or later, implementing automated credential scanning tools, and establishing strict change management procedures for credential deployment to prevent unauthorized administrative privilege escalation.
The exposure risk extends beyond immediate compromise as these credentials could be harvested through various attack vectors including credential theft, phishing, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities in the Windows environment. Once an attacker gains access through a compromised endpoint, they can leverage the administrative privileges to perform actions such as creating new administrator accounts, modifying authentication policies, or accessing encrypted data within the PingID system. This creates a persistent threat that could remain undetected for extended periods, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where authentication systems serve as critical security controls.
Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls that detect unusual API access patterns or credential usage that deviates from normal operational procedures. The lack of alerting mechanisms in affected versions means that administrators would have no visibility into credential misuse, creating a blind spot in security monitoring. Implementing comprehensive logging and alerting for administrative credential usage, combined with regular security assessments of credential deployment practices, would significantly reduce the risk associated with this vulnerability and improve overall security posture.