CVE-2017-4963 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been identified in Cloud Foundry Foundation's Cloud Foundry release v252 and older versions, as well as UAA stand-alone release v2.0.0 - v2.7.4.12 & v3.0.0 - v3.11.0, and UAA bosh release v26 & older versions, posing a risk of session fixation when UAA authenticates against external SAML or OpenID Connect based identity providers.

Understanding CVE-2017-4963

This CVE involves a session fixation vulnerability in Cloud Foundry Foundation's UAA component when configured to authenticate against specific external identity providers.

What is CVE-2017-4963?

The vulnerability in Cloud Foundry Foundation's UAA component allows for session fixation attacks when authenticating against external SAML or OpenID Connect based identity providers. This could lead to unauthorized access and potential security breaches.

The Impact of CVE-2017-4963

The vulnerability could result in unauthorized access to sensitive information, potential data breaches, and compromise of the affected systems' security.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-4963

This section provides detailed technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue affects Cloud Foundry Foundation's Cloud Foundry release v252 and earlier versions, UAA stand-alone release v2.0.0 - v2.7.4.12 & v3.0.0 - v3.11.0, and UAA bosh release v26 & earlier versions, allowing for session fixation when authenticating against external SAML or OpenID Connect based identity providers.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cloud Foundry Foundation's Cloud Foundry release v252 and earlier versions
UAA stand-alone release v2.0.0 - v2.7.4.12 & v3.0.0 - v3.11.0
UAA bosh release v26 & earlier versions

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited when UAA is configured to authenticate against external SAML or OpenID Connect based identity providers, enabling attackers to fixate sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-4963 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update UAA to the latest patched version to mitigate the session fixation vulnerability.
Implement strong session management practices to prevent session fixation attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit authentication mechanisms for any anomalies.
Educate users on secure authentication practices to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Cloud Foundry Foundation promptly to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.