CVE-2024-45488 in Safeguard for Privileged Passwords
Summary
by MITRE • 08/30/2024
One Identity Safeguard for Privileged Passwords before 7.5.2 allows unauthorized access because of an issue related to cookies. This only affects virtual appliance installations (VMware or HyperV). The fixed versions are 7.0.5.1 LTS, 7.4.2, and 7.5.2.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-45488 affects One Identity Safeguard for Privileged Passwords versions prior to 7.5.2, specifically impacting virtual appliance deployments running on VMware or HyperV platforms. This security flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to privileged password management systems. The vulnerability stems from improper cookie handling mechanisms within the authentication framework, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent the intended access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the cookie management subsystem of the Safeguard for Privileged Passwords virtual appliance. When the system processes authentication requests, it fails to properly validate or enforce session cookie integrity, allowing attackers to manipulate or forge authentication tokens. This weakness enables unauthorized users to establish valid sessions without proper authentication credentials, effectively bypassing the entire privileged access control mechanism. The issue is particularly concerning because it affects only virtual appliance installations, suggesting that the underlying flaw may be related to how the system handles session management in containerized or virtualized environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it compromises the fundamental security posture of privileged password management systems. Organizations relying on this solution for managing sensitive credentials face potential exposure of critical privileged accounts, potentially leading to lateral movement within networks and escalation of privileges. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to access and manipulate privileged password databases, potentially gaining access to administrative accounts across multiple systems. The implications are particularly severe in environments where privileged accounts control critical infrastructure components, as this vulnerability could enable complete compromise of the privileged access management infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate deployment of the patched versions 7.0.5.1 LTS, 7.4.2, or 7.5.2, which address the cookie handling implementation flaws. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring for unusual authentication patterns and session activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-384, which addresses session management flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through social engineering or authentication bypass methods. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their privileged access management systems to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure all virtual appliance installations are updated to the latest secure versions.