CVE-2023-4918 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE involves a vulnerability related to plaintext storage of user passwords in the Keycloak package, specifically affecting users who register themselves through a registration flow. This flaw allows malicious users with minimal access to retrieve other users' passwords in clear text, posing a significant risk to the security of the environment.

Understanding CVE-2023-4918

CVE-2023-4918 highlights a flaw in the Keycloak package, specifically related to user password storage, potentially exposing sensitive information to unauthorized users.

What is CVE-2023-4918?

The vulnerability stems from a design issue in the Keycloak package where user passwords are stored in plaintext format, making it accessible to any user or client with the proper rights and roles, creating a security risk for the affected environment.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4918

This vulnerability can lead to a severe impact on the security and privacy of users' accounts and data. Malicious actors could exploit this flaw to retrieve passwords in clear text, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of user information.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4918

The vulnerability is assigned a CVSS base score of 8.8, indicating a high severity level due to the ease of exploitation and potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of user passwords.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allows all users and clients with proper rights and roles to access user attributes, including passwords, in clear text format, leading to a significant security risk for the affected environment.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Keycloak

Vendor: N/A
Affected Version: 22.0.3

Product: Red Hat Single Sign-On 7

Vendor: Red Hat
Affected Version: 7

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by any user or client with minimal access permissions to retrieve user passwords stored in plaintext, potentially compromising the security of the environment.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-4918 to enhance the security of the affected systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement a password hashing mechanism to secure user passwords.
Monitor user access and privileges to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Regularly update and patch the affected systems to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
Educate users on password security best practices to enhance overall cybersecurity hygiene.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates released by the vendor to address the vulnerability and secure the affected systems.
Follow vendor recommendations and best practices for securing user passwords and sensitive information.