CVE-2017-12171 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In October 2017, a vulnerability was identified in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.9 version of httpd 2.2.15-60, potentially allowing unrestricted access to restricted HTTP resources.

Understanding CVE-2017-12171

What is CVE-2017-12171?

This CVE refers to a flaw in the parsing of configuration lines in the httpd server, which could lead to unintended access to restricted resources.

The Impact of CVE-2017-12171

The vulnerability could enable a web administrator to inadvertently grant unrestricted access to restricted HTTP resources for any client, compromising the security of the server.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-12171

Vulnerability Description

The defect in the "Allow" and "Deny" configuration lines parsing could result in misconfigurations that allow unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: httpd
Vendor: Red Hat
Versions Affected: 2.2.15-60

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to restricted resources due to misinterpretation of configuration comments.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update httpd to a patched version that addresses the parsing issue.
Review and correct configuration files to ensure proper access controls.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit access controls to prevent misconfigurations.
Educate administrators on best practices for securing web servers.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Red Hat to fix the parsing defect and prevent unauthorized access.