CVE-2025-0604 in Build of Keycloak
Summary
by MITRE • 01/22/2025
A flaw was found in Keycloak. When an Active Directory user resets their password, the system updates it without performing an LDAP bind to validate the new credentials against AD. This vulnerability allows users whose AD accounts are expired or disabled to regain access in Keycloak, bypassing AD restrictions. The issue enables authentication bypass and could allow unauthorized access under certain conditions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2025
This vulnerability exists within the Keycloak identity and access management system where proper authentication validation is bypassed during Active Directory password reset operations. The flaw specifically manifests when users attempt to reset their passwords through Keycloak's interface while connected to an Active Directory backend. Keycloak fails to perform the required LDAP bind operation to verify that the new credentials are valid within the Active Directory environment before updating the user's password in its internal database. This represents a critical security oversight that directly violates established authentication best practices and creates a pathway for unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of password reset workflows in Keycloak's Active Directory integration. When a user requests a password reset, the system should validate that the new password meets Active Directory requirements and can successfully authenticate against the AD domain controller before accepting it. However, the current implementation allows Keycloak to accept and store any password provided during the reset process without verifying its legitimacy through proper LDAP binding procedures. This design flaw creates a scenario where users with expired or disabled Active Directory accounts can still authenticate through Keycloak, effectively circumventing the security controls that should prevent access to disabled accounts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication and CWE-305 which covers authentication bypass through improper use of credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of organizations relying on Keycloak for identity management with Active Directory integration. Attackers could exploit this weakness by targeting users whose accounts have been disabled or expired through legitimate means, allowing them to regain access to systems and resources that should be restricted. This creates a persistent threat vector where compromised credentials or accounts that should be inactive can continue to function within the Keycloak environment, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, privilege escalation, or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor that bypasses the intended security controls of the Active Directory infrastructure, making it particularly dangerous in environments where account disablement is used as a security control.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by ensuring that Keycloak performs proper LDAP binding operations during password reset procedures. The recommended approach involves configuring Keycloak to validate new passwords against Active Directory before accepting them, which requires implementing proper LDAP bind operations with the updated credentials. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual authentication patterns, particularly around password reset activities and access from disabled accounts. Organizations may need to temporarily restrict password reset functionality or implement manual verification processes until the underlying issue is resolved through proper system updates or configuration changes. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining proper authentication validation procedures in identity management systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access through the exploitation of authentication bypass mechanisms.