CVE-2017-2773 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been found in Pivotal PCF Elastic Runtime versions 1.6.x (prior to 1.6.60), 1.7.x (prior to 1.7.41), 1.8.x (prior to 1.8.23), and 1.9.x (prior to 1.9.1) that allows unauthorized attackers to impersonate other users due to inadequate validation logic in the JSON Web Token (JWT) libraries.

Understanding CVE-2017-2773

This CVE identifies a security issue in Pivotal PCF Elastic Runtime that could lead to unauthorized user impersonation.

What is CVE-2017-2773?

The vulnerability in CVE-2017-2773, also known as the "Unauthenticated JWT signing algorithm in multiple components" issue, enables attackers to exploit inadequate validation logic in JWT libraries to impersonate users within PCF Elastic Runtime.

The Impact of CVE-2017-2773

Unauthorized attackers can impersonate other users in various components of PCF Elastic Runtime, potentially leading to unauthorized access and misuse of sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-2773

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE-2017-2773 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Incomplete validation logic in the JSON Web Token (JWT) libraries of Pivotal PCF Elastic Runtime versions 1.6.x, 1.7.x, 1.8.x, and 1.9.x allows unprivileged attackers to impersonate other users in multiple components.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Versions: 1.6.x (prior to 1.6.60), 1.7.x (prior to 1.7.41), 1.8.x (prior to 1.8.23), 1.9.x (prior to 1.9.1)
Product: PCF Elastic Runtime

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the inadequate validation logic in JWT libraries to craft malicious tokens, enabling them to impersonate legitimate users within PCF Elastic Runtime.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-2773 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update PCF Elastic Runtime to the patched versions to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict access to critical components to prevent unauthorized user impersonation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update JWT libraries to ensure proper validation logic.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Pivotal for PCF Elastic Runtime to address the vulnerability effectively.