CVE-2017-5646: Gateway provider identity assertion common Apache Knox Allows Impersonation Of Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-g3fc-8jv4-qmmv
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CVSS 6.8
CWE-346
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-5646 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.8) apache knox allows impersonation of vulnerability (CWE-346: Origin Validation Error) affecting Gateway provider identity assertion common libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache knox allows impersonation of users. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 0.12.0.

CVE-2017-5646 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-5646
GHSA Identifier GHSA-g3fc-8jv4-qmmv
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.8
CWE Classification CWE-346: Origin Validation Error
Affected Product Gateway provider identity assertion common
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.8

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
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-2017-5646

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Gateway provider identity assertion common 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.knox:gateway-provider-identity-assertion-common fixed: 0.12.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.knox</groupId>
    <artifactId>gateway-provider-identity-assertion-common</artifactId>
    <version>0.12.0</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.knox

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2017-5646, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Gateway provider identity assertion common in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 0.12.0), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.knox 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-346: Origin Validation Error, where the product does not properly verify that the source of data or communication is valid. In Gateway provider identity assertion common, 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

For versions of Apache Knox from 0.2.0 to 0.11.0 - an authenticated user may use a specially crafted URL to impersonate another user while accessing WebHDFS through Apache Knox. This may result in escalated privileges and unauthorized data access. While this activity is audit logged and can be easily associated with the authenticated user, this is still a serious security issue. All users are recommended to upgrade to the Apache Knox 0.12.0 release.

CVE-2017-5646 Affected Gateway provider identity assertion common Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
0.12.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.knox:gateway-provider-identity-assertion-common
maven/org.apache.knox/gateway-provider-identity-assertion-common
Maven
≥ 0.2.0
< 0.12.0
0.12.0

References

NVD — CVE-2017-5646 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5646
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/knox/commit/998dcd257dc839c9651485760da4d614c16e2ca2
Gateway provider identity assertion common Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/knox
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rcd6bcb... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rcd6bcbcc08840d4e4bea661efe9a5ef8f6126ebbbc5bc266701d8f48@%3Cdev.logging.apache.org%3E
mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/knox-user/... WEB
http://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/knox-user/201705.mbox/%3CCACRbFyjtT7QQGHUzTRdbJoySbJb7tt4BDk5-r-VRn0GB0Kgvag%40mail.gmail.com%3E

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-5646?
CVE-2017-5646 is a security vulnerability in Gateway provider identity assertion common involving Apache Knox allows impersonation of users under CWE-346: Origin Validation Error.
Which Gateway provider identity assertion common versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 0.12.0 across affected packages: org.apache.knox:gateway-provider-identity-assertion-common.
What version fixes CVE-2017-5646?
Upgrading to 0.12.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is gateway-provider-identity-assertion-common affected?
Yes, org.apache.knox:gateway-provider-identity-assertion-common is affected in releases prior to 0.12.0. Upgrade your dependency to 0.12.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-5646?
CVE-2017-5646 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.8 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-5646?
CVE-2017-5646 is classified under CWE-346: Origin Validation Error (The product does not properly verify that the source of data or communication is valid.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2017-5646?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.knox'. 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-g3fc-8jv4-qmmv",
  "modified" : "2025-04-22T19:35:38Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:11:15Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-5646" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Knox allows impersonation of users",
  "details" : "For versions of Apache Knox from 0.2.0 to 0.11.0 - an authenticated user may use a specially crafted URL to impersonate another user while accessing WebHDFS through Apache Knox. This may result in escalated privileges and unauthorized data access. While this activity is audit logged and can be easily associated with the authenticated user, this is still a serious security issue. All users are recommended to upgrade to the Apache Knox 0.12.0 release.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.knox:gateway-provider-identity-assertion-common"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "0.12.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5646"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/knox/commit/998dcd257dc839c9651485760da4d614c16e2ca2"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/knox"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rcd6bcbcc08840d4e4bea661efe9a5ef8f6126ebbbc5bc266701d8f48@%3Cdev.logging.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/knox-user/201705.mbox/%3CCACRbFyjtT7QQGHUzTRdbJoySbJb7tt4BDk5-r-VRn0GB0Kgvag%40mail.gmail.com%3E"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-346" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-04-22T19:35:38Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-05-26T21:29:00Z"
  }
}