CVE-2017-2638 : Security Advisory and Response

A security vulnerability has been discovered in Infinispan versions prior to 9.0.0, specifically related to the REST API. The issue arises from the improper implementation of authentication constraints, which can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access and manipulate data stored in the default cache or caches with known names.

Understanding CVE-2017-2638

This CVE affects Infinispan version 9.0.0.Final and was made public on April 19, 2017.

What is CVE-2017-2638?

CVE-2017-2638 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Infinispan that allows attackers to bypass authentication constraints in the REST API, potentially leading to unauthorized access and data manipulation.

The Impact of CVE-2017-2638

The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to read or modify data in the default cache or caches with known names, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the stored information.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-2638

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The REST API in Infinispan before version 9.0.0 did not properly enforce authentication constraints, enabling attackers to exploit this weakness.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Infinispan
Vendor: [UNKNOWN]
Versions Affected: Infinispan 9.0.0.Final

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: Low
Availability Impact: None

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-2638, follow these mitigation and prevention strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Infinispan to version 9.0.0 or later to patch the vulnerability.
Restrict network access to the affected systems.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or data manipulation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update authentication mechanisms.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential breaches.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by the vendor promptly.