CVE-2017-2585: Keycloak core Keycloak-core Vulnerable To Timing Attacks Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-w6gv-3r3v-gwgj
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CVSS 5.9
CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-2585 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.9) keycloak-core vulnerable to timing attacks vulnerability (CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor) affecting Keycloak core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves keycloak-core vulnerable to timing attacks against jws token verification. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.5.1.

CVE-2017-2585 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-2585
GHSA Identifier GHSA-w6gv-3r3v-gwgj
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.9
CWE Classification CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
Affected Product Keycloak core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.9

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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 None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2017-2585

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Keycloak core 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.keycloak:keycloak-core fixed: 2.5.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.keycloak</groupId>
    <artifactId>keycloak-core</artifactId>
    <version>2.5.1</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.keycloak

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2017-2585, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.keycloak

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Keycloak core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.5.1), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.keycloak 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-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor, where the product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. In Keycloak core, 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

Red Hat Keycloak before version 2.5.1 has an implementation of HMAC verification for JWS tokens that uses a method that runs in non-constant time, potentially leaving the application vulnerable to timing attacks.

CVE-2017-2585 Affected Keycloak core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.5.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.keycloak:keycloak-core
maven/org.keycloak/keycloak-core
Maven
< 2.5.1
2.5.1

References

NVD — CVE-2017-2585 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-2585
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2017:08... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0872
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2017:08... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0873
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1412376
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-w6gv-3r3v-gwgj
Keycloak core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20170420113802/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038180
Keycloak core Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20200227175650/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97393
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2017-08... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0876.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-2585?
CVE-2017-2585 is a security vulnerability in Keycloak core involving keycloak-core vulnerable to timing attacks against JWS token verification under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor.
Which Keycloak core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.5.1 across affected packages: org.keycloak:keycloak-core.
What version fixes CVE-2017-2585?
Upgrading to 2.5.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is keycloak-core affected?
Yes, org.keycloak:keycloak-core is affected in releases prior to 2.5.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.5.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-2585?
CVE-2017-2585 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.9 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-2585?
CVE-2017-2585 is classified under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor (The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2017-2585?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.keycloak'. 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-w6gv-3r3v-gwgj",
  "modified" : "2023-09-07T20:31:12Z",
  "published" : "2018-10-18T16:47:41Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-2585" ],
  "summary" : "keycloak-core vulnerable to timing attacks against JWS token verification",
  "details" : "Red Hat Keycloak before version 2.5.1 has an implementation of HMAC verification for JWS tokens that uses a method that runs in non-constant time, potentially leaving the application vulnerable to timing attacks.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.keycloak:keycloak-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.5.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-2585"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0872"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0873"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1412376"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-w6gv-3r3v-gwgj"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20170420113802/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038180"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20200227175650/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97393"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0876.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:59:50Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}