CVE-2020-14359 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability found in all versions of Keycloak Gatekeeper allows attackers to bypass security measures when using lowercase HTTP headers.

Understanding CVE-2020-14359

What is CVE-2020-14359?

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Keycloak Gatekeeper that enables attackers to bypass security controls by utilizing lowercase HTTP headers.

The Impact of CVE-2020-14359

The vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized access and potential security breaches when lowercase headers are used, particularly when Keycloak Gatekeeper is deployed in front of servers like Jetty.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-14359

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the acceptance of lowercase HTTP headers, allowing attackers to circumvent Keycloak Gatekeeper's security mechanisms.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Keycloak
Versions: All versions as of 2021-02-22

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by using lowercase HTTP headers, such as through cURL, to bypass Keycloak Gatekeeper's security controls.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Keycloak Gatekeeper to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability.
Implement strict header validation to prevent the use of lowercase headers.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update security configurations to address emerging threats.
Conduct security assessments to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Keycloak to ensure the security of the Gatekeeper solution.