CVE-2020-35509 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A flaw was found in Keycloak versions 11.0.3 and 12.0.0, where an expired certificate could be accepted due to missing time stamp validations, posing a risk to data confidentiality and integrity.

Understanding CVE-2020-35509

This CVE impacts Keycloak versions 11.0.3 and 12.0.0, potentially compromising data security.

What is CVE-2020-35509?

CVE-2020-35509 is a vulnerability in Keycloak that allows an expired certificate to be accepted by the direct-grant authenticator due to the absence of time stamp validations.

The Impact of CVE-2020-35509

The primary risk associated with this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-35509

Key technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an expired certificate to bypass validation checks, potentially leading to unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Keycloak
Versions: 11.0.3, 12.0.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The flaw can be exploited by presenting an expired certificate to the direct-grant authenticator, which lacks proper time stamp validations.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent the vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Keycloak to a patched version that includes fixes for this vulnerability.
Implement additional validation checks for certificates to prevent acceptance of expired ones.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update certificate validation mechanisms.
Conduct security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for Keycloak and promptly apply patches to mitigate known vulnerabilities.