CVE-2023-34196 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Keyfactor EJBCA before version 8.0.0 is susceptible to a partial denial of service vulnerability through the RA web certificate distribution servlet. This issue arises due to an authentication problem, potentially leading to the exposure of CA certificates to unauthorized or lower-privileged users.

Understanding CVE-2023-34196

Keyfactor EJBCA, prior to version 8.0.0, contains a vulnerability that could result in partial denial of service and the unauthorized disclosure of CA certificates.

What is CVE-2023-34196?

CVE-2023-34196 pertains to a partial denial of service flaw in the Keyfactor EJBCA RA web certificate distribution servlet, allowing unauthenticated or less privileged users to access CA certificates.

The Impact of CVE-2023-34196

The vulnerability could lead to service disruptions and the unintended exposure of sensitive CA certificate information to unauthorized individuals.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-34196

The following section elaborates on the technical aspects of the CVE-2023-34196 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Keyfactor EJBCA versions before 8.0.0 enables partial denial of service and may result in the unauthorized access of CA certificate data by unauthenticated or less privileged users.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of Keyfactor EJBCA before 8.0.0 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves accessing the RA web certificate distribution servlet in configurations utilizing OAuth, which could lead to unauthorized CA certificate disclosure.

Mitigation and Prevention

Effective measures to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2023-34196 are essential in safeguarding systems and sensitive certificate data.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Keyfactor EJBCA to version 8.0.0 or newer to address the vulnerability.
Review and restrict access to the RA web certificate distribution servlet to authorized users.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security assessments to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Provide security awareness training to users on handling sensitive certificate information.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitor security advisories and apply patches promptly to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.