CVE-2024-23316 in PingAccess
Summary
by MITRE • 05/31/2024
HTTP request desynchronization in Ping Identity PingAccess, all versions prior to 8.0.1 affected allows an attacker to send specially crafted http header requests to create a request smuggling condition for proxied requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-23316 represents a critical HTTP request desynchronization issue within Ping Identity PingAccess software affecting all versions prior to 8.0.1. This flaw resides in the application's handling of HTTP headers during proxy operations, creating a condition where attackers can manipulate the request processing flow. The vulnerability stems from improper parsing and validation of HTTP headers that are transmitted through the proxy server, allowing for potential manipulation of request boundaries and content interpretation.
This security weakness enables attackers to exploit HTTP request smuggling techniques by crafting malicious HTTP headers that can cause the proxy server to process requests in unintended ways. The flaw specifically affects the interaction between the proxy server and downstream applications, where the timing and structure of HTTP headers can be manipulated to create ambiguous request boundaries. When multiple requests are processed through the same connection, the improper header handling can lead to requests being incorrectly associated with different responses, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls, access unauthorized resources, or perform cross-site request forgery attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors that leverage the proxy server's role as an intermediary. Attackers can exploit this condition to inject malicious content, redirect traffic, or manipulate session handling mechanisms that rely on proper HTTP request parsing. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where PingAccess serves as a reverse proxy or load balancer, making it a significant concern for organizations that depend on this software for application delivery and security enforcement. The issue can be particularly dangerous in cloud environments or when the proxy handles sensitive authentication flows, as it may allow attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to protected resources.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize upgrading to PingAccess version 8.0.1 or later, which includes patches addressing the HTTP header processing inconsistencies. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as HTTP request filtering, rate limiting, and connection monitoring to detect anomalous header patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough network traffic analysis to identify potential exploitation signatures and implement proper input validation at all proxy entry points. Additionally, organizations should review their existing security configurations and ensure that proper header sanitization is in place. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-444 HTTP Request Smuggling and follows ATT&CK technique T1190 for Proxying, making it a critical concern for organizations following cybersecurity frameworks that emphasize request validation and proxy security controls.