CVE-2021-29156 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

ForgeRock OpenAM before 13.5.1 is vulnerable to LDAP injection via the Webfinger protocol, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to retrieve password hashes character by character, session tokens, or private keys.

Understanding CVE-2021-29156

This CVE identifies a security vulnerability in ForgeRock OpenAM that could lead to the exposure of sensitive information due to LDAP injection through the Webfinger protocol.

What is CVE-2021-29156?

CVE-2021-29156 relates to a flaw in ForgeRock OpenAM versions prior to 13.5.1, enabling attackers to perform LDAP injection attacks via the Webfinger protocol. This could result in the extraction of password hashes, session tokens, and private keys.

The Impact of CVE-2021-29156

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows unauthenticated threat actors to progressively access and retrieve sensitive information stored within the affected OpenAM instances, compromising user credentials and potentially leading to unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-29156

In-depth technical insights regarding the CVE-2021-29156 vulnerability:

Vulnerability Description

ForgeRock OpenAM before version 13.5.1 is susceptible to LDAP injection through the Webfinger protocol. Attackers can exploit this to extract password hashes, session tokens, or private keys.

Affected Systems and Versions

All ForgeRock OpenAM versions preceding 13.5.1 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the Webfinger protocol, threat actors can carry out LDAP injection attacks to retrieve sensitive data character by character.

Mitigation and Prevention

To secure systems against potential exploitation of CVE-2021-29156, consider the following measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update ForgeRock OpenAM to version 13.5.1 or the latest available release to patch the vulnerability.
Implement strict access controls to limit unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security updates and apply patches promptly to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify and address any underlying security weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

ForgeRock has released version 13.5.1 to address the LDAP injection vulnerability in OpenAM. It is crucial to apply this patch immediately to prevent potential exploitation.