CVE-2023-1656 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-1656 was published by ForgeRock on March 29, 2023, detailing a Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information vulnerability in ForgeRock Inc. OpenIDM and Java Remote Connector Server (RCS) LDAP Connector that affects versions 1.5.20.9 through 1.5.20.13 on Windows, MacOS, and Linux platforms.

Understanding CVE-2023-1656

This vulnerability exposes a security flaw in the LDAP Connector of ForgeRock Inc.'s OpenIDM and Java Remote Connector Server (RCS), potentially allowing remote attackers to access services with stolen credentials.

What is CVE-2023-1656?

The CVE-2023-1656 vulnerability involves the insecure transmission of LDAP BIND credentials when the LDAP connector is started with StartTLS configured, transmitting sensitive information in cleartext before establishing a secure TLS connection.

The Impact of CVE-2023-1656

The impact of CVE-2023-1656 is classified as high severity, with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access, compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-1656

This section delves deeper into the technical aspects of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows remote services to be accessed using stolen credentials due to the cleartext transmission of sensitive information by the LDAP Connector in ForgeRock Inc.'s OpenIDM and Java Remote Connector Server (RCS).

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts systems running OpenIDM and Java Remote Connector Server (RCS) versions 1.5.20.9 through 1.5.20.13 on Windows, MacOS, and Linux platforms.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by intercepting the cleartext transmission of LDAP BIND credentials when the LDAP connector is initiated with StartTLS configured, before the TLS connection is established.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-1656 and enhance system security, certain mitigation and prevention measures need to be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is crucial to upgrade the LDAP connector to version 1.5.20.14 or later to mitigate the vulnerability and prevent unauthorized access to remote services.

Long-Term Security Practices

Organizations should implement secure transmission practices, such as encrypting sensitive information and enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, to prevent similar security incidents in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for security updates and promptly applying patches provided by vendors like ForgeRock is essential to address known vulnerabilities and bolster overall system security.