CVE-2024-1481: FreeIPA Vulnerability - Remote Attackers Can Cause Denial of Service by Exploiting a Flaw in HTTP Request Handling

A critical vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-1481, has been discovered in FreeIPA, an integrated security information management solution. This vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to craft a malicious HTTP request containing parameters that can be interpreted as command-line arguments to kinit on the FreeIPA server. As a result, an attacker can trigger a denial-of-service (DoS) condition, disrupting the server functionality and availability.

In this long-read post, we'll take you through a comprehensive understanding of the vulnerability, its impact, affected versions, available patches, and mitigation techniques. Additionally, we'll demonstrate a code snippet that exemplifies the vulnerability, and provide relevant references for further information and research.

Vulnerability Details

The CVE-2024-1481 vulnerability is a result of improper handling and sanitizing of input from HTTP requests by the FreeIPA server. By creating a specially crafted HTTP request, an attacker can inject parameters that can be interpreted as command-line arguments to the kinit command, which is responsible for obtaining and caching Kerberos tickets.

The attacker remotely exploits this vulnerability, executing a DoS attack that leads to resource exhaustion and service disruption on the target FreeIPA server.

Code Snippet

Below is an example of a code snippet that demonstrates this vulnerability. An attacker can craft a malicious HTTP request with parameters that manipulate the kinit command:

import requests

# Replace target_ip with the IP address of the target FreeIPA server
target_url = "http://target_ip/ipa/";

# Craft malicious HTTP request
malicious_payload = {
    "user": "username",
    "password": "password",
    "kerberos_args": "--BAD-ARGS-", # Insert malicious arguments here
}

response = requests.post(target_url, data=malicious_payload)

print(response.status_code, response.text)

By using a script similar to the one above, the attacker can exploit the vulnerability and trigger the DoS condition on the target server.

Affected Versions and Patches

The CVE-2024-1481 vulnerability affects multiple versions of FreeIPA. It's crucial to identify and secure your installations by applying the necessary patches. The FreeIPA team has acknowledged the issue and has already issued the patches for the affected versions:

* FreeIPA 4.8.11 and earlier: Upgrade to FreeIPA 4.8.12 or higher.
* FreeIPA 4.9.2 and earlier: Upgrade to FreeIPA 4.9.3 or higher.

For further information on patching and upgrading your FreeIPA servers, please refer to the official FreeIPA documentation: https://www.freeipa.org/page/Documentation

Mitigation Tactics

In addition to applying the patches, there are some additional mitigation steps that can be taken to further secure your FreeIPA installations:

1. Limit Access: Restrict access to the FreeIPA server(s) by implementing strict network access control policies and permitting only authorized and authenticated users.

2. Regular Auditing: Periodically audit and review logs and security settings for any suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts.

3. Intrusion Detection Systems: Deploy network-based intrusion detection systems (IDS) to identify and alert about potential security threats.

4. Routinely Update: Always keep the FreeIPA server and its dependencies up-to-date with the latest security patches and software versions.

Original References

For more information and technical details about the CVE-2024-1481 vulnerability, please refer to the following resources:

1. CVE Details: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-1481
2. FreeIPA Security Advisory: https://www.freeipa.org/page/Security:2024-1481
3. National Vulnerability Database (NVD) Entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-1481

Conclusion

The CVE-2024-1481 vulnerability in FreeIPA presents a significant risk to organizations that rely on FreeIPA for their security information management. By understanding the vulnerability, affected versions, available patches, and mitigation techniques, organizations can take appropriate measures to protect their valuable information and resources.

It's always crucial to be proactive in securing your infrastructure. Keep an eye on security updates and advisories for the software and tools you use for regular maintenance and protection. Create a culture of security awareness and best practices within your organization to ensure a strong security posture going forward.

Timeline

Published on: 04/10/2024 21:15:06 UTC
Last modified on: 04/30/2024 14:15:14 UTC