CVE-2021-3051 Cortex XSOAR: Authentication Bypass in SAML Authentication
Description
An improper verification of cryptographic signature vulnerability exists in Cortex XSOAR SAML authentication that enables an unauthenticated network-based attacker with specific knowledge of the Cortex XSOAR instance to access protected resources and perform unauthorized actions on the Cortex XSOAR server.
This issue impacts:
Cortex XSOAR 5.5.0 builds earlier than 1578677;
Cortex XSOAR 6.1.0 builds earlier than 1578663;
Cortex XSOAR 6.2.0 builds earlier than 1578666.
All Cortex XSOAR instances hosted by Palo Alto Networks are protected from this vulnerability; no additional action is required for these instances.
Product Status
| Versions | Affected | Unaffected |
|---|---|---|
| Cortex XSOAR 6.2.0 | < 1578666 | >= 1578666 |
| Cortex XSOAR 6.1.0 | < 1578663 | >= 1578663 |
| Cortex XSOAR 5.5.0 | < 1578677 | >= 1578677 |
Required Configuration for Exposure
This issue is applicable only to Cortex XSOAR configurations with SAML authentication integration enabled.
You can determine if your configuration has SAML authentication integration enabled by selecting 'Settings > Servers & Services' and searching for 'SAML'.
Severity: HIGH
CVSSv3.1 Base Score: 8.1 (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)
Exploitation Status
Palo Alto Networks is not aware of any malicious attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
Weakness Type
CWE-347 Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
Solution
This issue is fixed in Cortex XSOAR 5.5.0 build 1578677, Cortex XSOAR 6.1.0 build 1578663, Cortex XSOAR 6.2.0 build 1578666, and all later Cortex XSOAR versions.
Workarounds and Mitigations
To completely prevent this issue from being exploited before you can upgrade your Cortex XSOAR server, disable SAML authentication integration.
You can also restrict network access to the Cortex XSOAR server to allow only trusted users to further reduce the impact of this issue.
Acknowledgments
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are there any indicators of compromise or breach related to this vulnerability?
Cortex XSOAR Audit Trail will list all performed administrative actions. The presence of unexpected actions, new integrations, or additional users sometimes indicates a breach. To view an audit trail, select 'Settings > Users and Roles > Audit Trail' from the web client.
Q. Is this issue a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability?
This issue is not a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability. This issue enables an unauthorized attacker with specific knowledge of the instance to perform actions on behalf of a Cortex XSOAR administrator.
Q. Has this issue been exploited in the wild?
No evidence of active exploitation was identified at the time this advisory was published.
Q. What logs should I examine for clues of a compromise?
You can examine the Cortex XSOAR Audit Trail and the application server log (/var/log/demisto/server.log) for clues that indicate a compromise.
The presence of new or unexpected users and API keys might indicate a compromise.