CVE-2023-51437: Pulsar broker auth sasl Apache Pulsar SASL Authentication Provider Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-c57v-4vg5-cm2x
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CVSS 7.4
CWE-203 CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-51437 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.4) apache pulsar sasl authentication provider vulnerability (CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy) affecting Pulsar broker auth sasl libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache pulsar sasl authentication provider observable timing discrepancy vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.11.3, 3.0.2, 3.1.1.

CVE-2023-51437 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-51437
GHSA Identifier GHSA-c57v-4vg5-cm2x
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.4
CWE Classification CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy
Affected Product Pulsar broker auth sasl
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.4

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-51437

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Pulsar broker auth sasl dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker-auth-sasl fixed: 2.11.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.pulsar</groupId>
    <artifactId>pulsar-broker-auth-sasl</artifactId>
    <version>2.11.3</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker-auth-sasl fixed: 3.0.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.pulsar</groupId>
    <artifactId>pulsar-broker-auth-sasl</artifactId>
    <version>3.0.2</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker-auth-sasl fixed: 3.1.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.pulsar</groupId>
    <artifactId>pulsar-broker-auth-sasl</artifactId>
    <version>3.1.1</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.pulsar

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-51437, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.pulsar

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Pulsar broker auth sasl in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.11.3), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.pulsar command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy, where the product behaves differently or sends different responses under different circumstances in a way that is observable to an unauthorized actor. In Pulsar broker auth sasl, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Observable timing discrepancy vulnerability in Apache Pulsar SASL Authentication Provider can allow an attacker to forge a SASL Role Token that will pass signature verification. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.11.3, 3.0.2, or 3.1.1 which fixes the issue. Users should also consider updating the configured secret in the `saslJaasServerRoleTokenSignerSecretPath` file. Any component matching an above version running the SASL Authentication Provider is affected. That includes the Pulsar Broker, Proxy, Websocket Proxy, or Function Worker. 2.11 Pulsar users should upgrade to at least 2.11.3. 3.0 Pulsar users should upgrade to at least 3.0.2. 3.1 Pulsar users should upgrade to at least 3.1.1. Any users running Pulsar 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, and earlier should upgrade to one of the above patched versions. For additional details on this attack vector, please refer to https://codahale.com/a-lesson-in-timing-attacks/ .

CVE-2023-51437 Affected Pulsar broker auth sasl Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.11.33.0.23.1.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker-auth-sasl
maven/org.apache.pulsar/pulsar-broker-auth-sasl
Maven
< 2.11.3
2.11.3
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker-auth-sasl
maven/org.apache.pulsar/pulsar-broker-auth-sasl
Maven
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.0.2
3.0.2
org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker-auth-sasl
maven/org.apache.pulsar/pulsar-broker-auth-sasl
Maven
≥ 3.1.0
< 3.1.1
3.1.1

References

NVD — CVE-2023-51437 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-51437
Pulsar broker auth sasl Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/pulsar/pull/21061
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/pulsar/commit/6274fa01a75d74d559bb7e514c970f1fc07d15bc
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/pulsar/commit/bc1019fa8ed37b8a4c8bb01e3662c6c015e1bc27
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/pulsar/commit/c05954e66ff33098aeb848f4bde51613ace7e47e
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/pulsar/commit/c27beca64cc93848c40a374f19eaf4d3cc4f4f03
Pulsar broker auth sasl Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/pulsar
lists.apache.org/thread/5kgmvvolf5tz... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/5kgmvvolf5tzp5rz9xjwfg2ncwvqqgl5
Pulsar broker auth sasl Security Information SECURITY
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/02/07/1
Pulsar broker auth sasl Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/02/07/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-51437?
CVE-2023-51437 is a security vulnerability in Pulsar broker auth sasl involving Apache Pulsar SASL Authentication Provider observable timing discrepancy vulnerability under CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy.
Which Pulsar broker auth sasl versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.11.3, 3.0.2, 3.1.1 across affected packages: org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker-auth-sasl.
What version fixes CVE-2023-51437?
Upgrading to 2.11.3, 3.0.2, 3.1.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is pulsar-broker-auth-sasl affected?
Yes, org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker-auth-sasl is affected in releases prior to 2.11.3, 3.0.2, 3.1.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.11.3, 3.0.2, 3.1.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-51437?
CVE-2023-51437 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.4 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-51437?
CVE-2023-51437 is classified under CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy (The product behaves differently or sends different responses under different circumstances in a way that is observable to an unauthorized actor.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-51437?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.pulsar'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-c57v-4vg5-cm2x",
  "modified" : "2024-07-22T09:31:55Z",
  "published" : "2024-02-07T12:30:25Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-51437" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Pulsar SASL Authentication Provider observable timing discrepancy vulnerability",
  "details" : "Observable timing discrepancy vulnerability in Apache Pulsar SASL Authentication Provider can allow an attacker to forge a SASL Role Token that will pass signature verification.\nUsers are recommended to upgrade to version 2.11.3, 3.0.2, or 3.1.1 which fixes the issue. Users should also consider updating the configured secret in the `saslJaasServerRoleTokenSignerSecretPath` file.\n\nAny component matching an above version running the SASL Authentication Provider is affected. That includes the Pulsar Broker, Proxy, Websocket Proxy, or Function Worker.\n\n2.11 Pulsar users should upgrade to at least 2.11.3.\n3.0 Pulsar users should upgrade to at least 3.0.2.\n3.1 Pulsar users should upgrade to at least 3.1.1.\nAny users running Pulsar 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, and earlier should upgrade to one of the above patched versions.\n\nFor additional details on this attack vector, please refer to  https://codahale.com/a-lesson-in-timing-attacks/ .\n\n",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker-auth-sasl"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.11.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker-auth-sasl"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.0.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.pulsar:pulsar-broker-auth-sasl"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.1.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.1.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-51437"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/pulsar/pull/21061"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/pulsar/commit/6274fa01a75d74d559bb7e514c970f1fc07d15bc"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/pulsar/commit/bc1019fa8ed37b8a4c8bb01e3662c6c015e1bc27"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/pulsar/commit/c05954e66ff33098aeb848f4bde51613ace7e47e"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/pulsar/commit/c27beca64cc93848c40a374f19eaf4d3cc4f4f03"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/pulsar"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/5kgmvvolf5tzp5rz9xjwfg2ncwvqqgl5"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/02/07/1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/02/07/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200", "CWE-203" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-02-07T18:23:31Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2024-02-07T10:15:08Z"
  }
}