CVE-2017-4973 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been found in various versions of Cloud Foundry Foundation cf-release, UAA release 2.x, UAA release 3.6.x, UAA release 3.9.x, and other versions before v257, v2.7.4.14, v3.6.8, v3.9.10, and v3.15.0 respectively, as well as in UAA bosh release (uaa-release) 13.x versions before v13.12, 24.x versions prior to v24.7, and other versions prior to v30. This vulnerability allows users to increase their privileges by exploiting the groups endpoint in UAA.

Understanding CVE-2017-4973

This CVE identifies a privilege escalation vulnerability in Cloud Foundry UAA.

What is CVE-2017-4973?

CVE-2017-4973 is a security flaw found in various versions of Cloud Foundry UAA that allows users to elevate their privileges by exploiting the groups endpoint.

The Impact of CVE-2017-4973

The vulnerability in CVE-2017-4973 can lead to unauthorized users gaining elevated privileges within the UAA system, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-4973

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Cloud Foundry UAA versions prior to v257 and UAA bosh release versions prior to v30 allows users to escalate their privileges through the groups endpoint.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cloud Foundry Foundation cf-release versions before v257
UAA release 2.x versions before v2.7.4.14
UAA release 3.6.x versions before v3.6.8
UAA release 3.9.x versions before v3.9.10
UAA bosh release (uaa-release) 13.x versions before v13.12
UAA bosh release (uaa-release) 24.x versions before v24.7
Other versions of UAA bosh release prior to v30

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating the groups endpoint in UAA, allowing unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-4973 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by Cloud Foundry Foundation to fix the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict access to the groups endpoint in UAA.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Cloud Foundry UAA to prevent security vulnerabilities.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit user privileges.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Cloud Foundry Foundation.
Ensure timely application of patches to mitigate the risk of privilege escalation.