There is a privilege escalation vulnerability in organization-specific logins in Esri Portal for ArcGIS versions 10.9 and below that may allow a remote, authenticated attacker who is able to intercept and modify a SAML assertion to impersonate another account (XML Signature Wrapping Attack). The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 8.8, classifying it as high severity. This indicates a significant potential for exploitation, emphasizing the need for immediate attention from security teams.
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive information and potential system compromise, making it critical for defenders to prioritize patching immediately. Esri's guidance to sign and encrypt SAML assertions further highlights the importance of implementing robust security measures in identity management systems.
As of now, there are no public proofs of concept or known exploits for this vulnerability, but the attack vector is network-based and requires low complexity with low privileges needed to execute. Organizations should be vigilant, as exploitation could lead to severe consequences.
Given the potential impact and the exploitability of this vulnerability, organizations utilizing Esri Portal for ArcGIS should assess their exposure and implement the necessary patches without delay.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation due to improper handling of SAML assertions. The CVSS version 3.1 vector for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability was published on October 1, 2021, and affects Esri Portal for ArcGIS versions 10.9 and below.
The CWE classification for this vulnerability is CWE-347, which pertains to the improper handling of SAML assertions. This underscores the need for secure assertion practices, such as signing and encrypting assertions as recommended by Esri.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper validation of SAML assertions during the authentication process. Specifically, an attacker can intercept and modify these assertions to impersonate another user. The attack vector is network-based, implying that an attacker only requires access to the network traffic to exploit this vulnerability.
The complexity of the attack is low, requiring only minimal privileges to execute, and no user interaction is needed. Given the impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, the potential for significant damage is high.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment risk associated with this vulnerability is significant. If exploited, attackers could gain unauthorized access to sensitive organizational data, leading to potential data breaches and loss of trust. Organizations should be particularly concerned about the potential blast radius, which could affect numerous accounts if SAML assertions are improperly managed.
Urgency for organizations to act is underscored by the high CVSS score. Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects all versions of Esri Portal for ArcGIS prior to 10.9. Organizations should ensure they are running the latest patched version to mitigate this risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should apply the latest patches provided by Esri. It is crucial to ensure that SAML assertions are signed and encrypted as an additional security measure.
For further guidance on security practices, organizations can refer to the application security assessment services.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of SAML assertion manipulation and any unusual access patterns that could indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability underscores the importance of robust SAML handling within identity management systems. Security teams should be aware of the potential for similar vulnerabilities and adopt best practices to secure assertion handling.
For further insights, organizations may explore our vulnerability management program design and best practices in application security.
Additionally, our guidance on penetration testing methodology can help identify potential weaknesses before they are exploited.
Finally, understanding the implications of vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-29108 can enhance the overall security posture of organizations. Continuous assessment and adaptation to emerging threats are vital.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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