CVE-2023-44038 in VeridiumID
Summary
by MITRE • 04/03/2024
In VeridiumID before 3.5.0, the identity provider page allows an unauthenticated attacker to discover information about registered users via an LDAP injection attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-44038 affects VeridiumID versions prior to 3.5.0 and represents a critical security flaw in the identity provider page implementation. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the authentication framework, creating an avenue for attackers to exploit LDAP injection techniques. The vulnerability specifically targets the user discovery functionality that should remain restricted to authenticated users only, yet allows unauthorized access to sensitive user information through crafted malicious input.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through LDAP injection attacks that manipulate the underlying directory service queries used by the identity provider. Attackers can craft specially formatted inputs that bypass authentication mechanisms and directly query the LDAP directory service to retrieve information about registered users. This flaw enables unauthorized discovery of user accounts, potentially including usernames, email addresses, and other directory service attributes that should remain confidential. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied input before incorporating it into LDAP search queries, creating a direct injection vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used for subsequent attacks. An unauthenticated attacker can systematically enumerate user accounts within the system, potentially identifying valid credentials for privilege escalation attempts. This information leakage can facilitate targeted phishing campaigns, account takeover attempts, and other advanced persistent threat activities. The vulnerability undermines the fundamental security principle of least privilege by allowing unauthorized access to user directory information that should be protected through proper authentication controls.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-91 - Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an LDAP Query ('LDAP Injection') and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1087.001 - Account Discovery: Local Account. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient input validation where user-provided data flows directly into directory service queries without proper sanitization. Organizations using affected versions of VeridiumID face significant risk of credential harvesting and user enumeration attacks that could lead to broader system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all external data sources, particularly when dealing with directory services and authentication systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems to version 3.5.0 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and LDAP query parameterization. Organizations should also implement network-level controls to restrict access to the identity provider page and monitor for suspicious authentication attempts. Additional defensive measures include implementing rate limiting on user discovery queries, enforcing strong authentication requirements for directory access, and conducting regular security assessments of identity management systems. The remediation process should also include reviewing and updating input validation procedures across all LDAP integration points to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of the authentication infrastructure.