CVE-2017-12872: Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp SimpleSAMLphp Allows Timing Side-channel Attacks Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-v882-949x-6v28
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CVSS 5.9
CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-12872 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.9) simplesamlphp allows timing side-channel attacks vulnerability (CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor) affecting Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves simplesamlphp allows timing side-channel attacks. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.15.0-rc1.

CVE-2017-12872 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-12872
GHSA Identifier GHSA-v882-949x-6v28
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.9
CWE Classification CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
Affected Product Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp
Package Ecosystem Packagist
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-2017-12872

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

simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp fixed: 1.15.0-rc1 
Upgrade simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp to 1.15.0-rc1
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

inspect dependencies for simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2017-12872, inspect your project dependencies for Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp:

inspect dependencies for simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.15.0-rc1), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

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 Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp, 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

The (1) Htpasswd authentication source in the authcrypt module and (2) SimpleSAML_Session class in SimpleSAMLphp 1.14.11 and earlier allow remote attackers to conduct timing side-channel attacks by leveraging use of the standard comparison operator to compare secret material against user input.

CVE-2017-12872 Affected Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.15.0-rc1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp
 Packagist
< 1.15.0-rc1
1.15.0-rc1

References

NVD — CVE-2017-12872 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-12872
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp/commit/b72c79e3070f930d758f5c269333d63ed7509e2e
Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/FriendsOfPHP/security-advisories/blob/master/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp/CVE-2017-12872.yaml
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2017/12/msg00007.html
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/06/msg00017.html
Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp Security Information SECURITY
https://simplesamlphp.org/security/201703-01

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-12872?
CVE-2017-12872 is a security vulnerability in Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp involving SimpleSAMLphp allows timing side-channel attacks under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor.
Which Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.15.0-rc1 across affected packages: simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp.
What version fixes CVE-2017-12872?
Upgrading to 1.15.0-rc1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp affected?
Yes, simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp is affected in releases prior to 1.15.0-rc1. Upgrade your dependency to 1.15.0-rc1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-12872?
CVE-2017-12872 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-2017-12872?
CVE-2017-12872 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 Packagist dependencies for CVE-2017-12872?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp'. 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-v882-949x-6v28",
  "modified" : "2023-07-26T21:48:04Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T01:04:04Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-12872" ],
  "summary" : "SimpleSAMLphp allows timing side-channel attacks",
  "details" : "The (1) Htpasswd authentication source in the authcrypt module and (2) SimpleSAML_Session class in SimpleSAMLphp 1.14.11 and earlier allow remote attackers to conduct timing side-channel attacks by leveraging use of the standard comparison operator to compare secret material against user input.",
  "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" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.15.0-rc1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-12872"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp/commit/b72c79e3070f930d758f5c269333d63ed7509e2e"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/FriendsOfPHP/security-advisories/blob/master/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp/CVE-2017-12872.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2017/12/msg00007.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/06/msg00017.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://simplesamlphp.org/security/201703-01"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-07-26T21:48:04Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-09-01T21:29:00Z"
  }
}