CVE-2023-0582 in Access Management
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2024
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in ForgeRock Access Management allows Authorization Bypass.
This issue affects access management: before 7.3.0, before 7.2.1, before 7.1.4, through 7.0.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2025
The CVE-2023-0582 vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw within ForgeRock Access Management systems that fundamentally compromises the authorization mechanisms designed to protect sensitive resources. This vulnerability stems from improper limitation of pathname inputs, allowing malicious actors to bypass authorization controls by manipulating file paths to access restricted directories. The flaw exists in multiple versions of ForgeRock Access Management including versions prior to 7.3.0, 7.2.1, and 7.1.4, while also affecting versions through 7.0.2, indicating a widespread impact across several major releases. The vulnerability specifically targets the authorization bypass capability, meaning that attackers can potentially access resources they should not be permitted to reach, undermining the core security model of the access management platform.
The technical implementation of this path traversal vulnerability occurs when the system fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied pathname inputs before processing them within the file system. This allows attackers to craft malicious input sequences that can traverse directory structures beyond the intended boundaries, effectively breaking out of restricted directories and accessing sensitive files or resources. The flaw typically manifests when the application uses user-controllable input to construct file paths without adequate validation, enabling attackers to insert directory traversal sequences such as "../" or similar patterns that navigate upward through the directory hierarchy. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices for input validation and access control.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0582 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it enables attackers to bypass authorization controls that are fundamental to maintaining security boundaries within ForgeRock Access Management systems. Successful exploitation could allow unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files, user credentials, authentication tokens, and other critical system components that should remain protected within restricted directories. This authorization bypass capability significantly increases the attack surface and potential damage scope, as attackers can potentially escalate privileges, access confidential data, or even manipulate the access management system itself. The vulnerability poses particular risk to organizations relying on ForgeRock Access Management for identity and access control, as it undermines the trust model that these systems are designed to maintain.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address the path traversal issue. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to patched versions of ForgeRock Access Management that have addressed this specific vulnerability, with the earliest supported versions being 7.3.0, 7.2.1, and 7.1.4. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures at all points where user-supplied pathname data is processed can provide additional defense-in-depth. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit exposure, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect suspicious file access patterns. The mitigation approach should also include disabling unnecessary file access functionality and implementing strict path validation rules that prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure that their access management systems maintain proper authorization boundaries. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper access control implementation, aligning with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access through path traversal methods.