CVE-2020-11631 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in EJBCA before 6.15.2.6 and 7.x before 7.3.1.2 that can lead to privilege escalation and remote code execution.

Understanding CVE-2020-11631

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in EJBCA that can be exploited by a malicious user to generate an error state in the CA UI, allowing for follow-on exploitation.

What is CVE-2020-11631?

The vulnerability in EJBCA before versions 6.15.2.6 and 7.x before 7.3.1.2 enables a malicious user to create an error state in the CA UI, leading to potential privilege escalation and remote code execution.

The Impact of CVE-2020-11631

Exploitation of this vulnerability can result in privilege escalation and remote code execution, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-11631

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows a malicious user to create an error state in the CA UI, enabling follow-on exploitation that can lead to privilege escalation and remote code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

EJBCA versions before 6.15.2.6 and 7.x before 7.3.1.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploitable when at least one accessible port lacks a requirement for client certificate authentication, such as ports 8442 or 8080 in a standard installation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-11631 requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update EJBCA to version 6.15.2.6 or 7.3.1.2 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Ensure that all accessible ports enforce client certificate authentication to prevent exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit CA UI activities for any suspicious behavior.
Implement network segmentation to limit access to critical systems.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by EJBCA to address the vulnerability.