Vulnerabilities in pkg:maven/org.apereo.cas/cas-server-webapp

PACKAGE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-q39c-5vh5-vw2p
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Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-27178 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) improper authentication vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting Cas server webapp libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper authentication in apereo cas. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.3.16, 6.1.7.2, 6.2.4.

1 Known Advisory Record(s)
Package Vulnerability Intelligence

pkg:maven/org.apereo.cas/cas-server-webapp

1 Known Advisory Record(s)

Vulnerability advisories affecting package pkg:maven/org.apereo.cas/cas-server-webapp. Select an advisory below to view technical details or fixes.

Advisory ID CVE / NVD Severity Summary
GHSA-q39c-5vh5-vw2p CVE-2020-27178 HIGH Improper Authentication in Apereo CAS

CVE-2020-27178 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-27178
GHSA Identifier GHSA-q39c-5vh5-vw2p
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Affected Product Cas server webapp
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2020-27178

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Cas server webapp 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.apereo.cas:cas-server-webapp fixed: 5.3.16 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apereo.cas</groupId>
    <artifactId>cas-server-webapp</artifactId>
    <version>5.3.16</version>
</dependency>
org.apereo.cas:cas-server-webapp fixed: 6.1.7.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apereo.cas</groupId>
    <artifactId>cas-server-webapp</artifactId>
    <version>6.1.7.2</version>
</dependency>
org.apereo.cas:cas-server-webapp fixed: 6.2.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apereo.cas</groupId>
    <artifactId>cas-server-webapp</artifactId>
    <version>6.2.4</version>
</dependency>
org.apereo.cas:cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core fixed: 5.3.16 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apereo.cas</groupId>
    <artifactId>cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core</artifactId>
    <version>5.3.16</version>
</dependency>
org.apereo.cas:cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core fixed: 6.1.7.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apereo.cas</groupId>
    <artifactId>cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core</artifactId>
    <version>6.1.7.2</version>
</dependency>
org.apereo.cas:cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core fixed: 6.2.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apereo.cas</groupId>
    <artifactId>cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core</artifactId>
    <version>6.2.4</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.apereo.cas

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2020-27178, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apereo.cas

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Cas server webapp in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 5.3.16), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apereo.cas 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-287: Improper Authentication, where when an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. In Cas server webapp, 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

Apereo CAS 5.3.x before 5.3.16, 6.x before 6.1.7.2, 6.2.x before 6.2.4, and 6.3.x before 6.3.0-RC4 mishandles secret keys with Google Authenticator for multifactor authentication.

CVE-2020-27178 Affected Cas server webapp Versions

6 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.3.166.1.7.26.2.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apereo.cas:cas-server-webapp
maven/org.apereo.cas/cas-server-webapp
Maven
≥ 5.3.0
< 5.3.16
5.3.16
org.apereo.cas:cas-server-webapp
maven/org.apereo.cas/cas-server-webapp
Maven
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.1.7.2
6.1.7.2
org.apereo.cas:cas-server-webapp
maven/org.apereo.cas/cas-server-webapp
Maven
≥ 6.2.0
< 6.2.4
6.2.4
org.apereo.cas:cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core
maven/org.apereo.cas/cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core
Maven
≥ 5.3.0
< 5.3.16
5.3.16
org.apereo.cas:cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core
maven/org.apereo.cas/cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core
Maven
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.1.7.2
6.1.7.2
org.apereo.cas:cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core
maven/org.apereo.cas/cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core
Maven
≥ 6.2.0
< 6.2.4
6.2.4

References

NVD — CVE-2020-27178 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-27178
apereo.github.io/2020/10/14/gauthvul... WEB
https://apereo.github.io/2020/10/14/gauthvuln

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-27178?
CVE-2020-27178 is a security vulnerability in Cas server webapp involving Improper Authentication in Apereo CAS under CWE-287: Improper Authentication.
Which Cas server webapp versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.3.16, 6.1.7.2, 6.2.4 across affected packages: org.apereo.cas:cas-server-webapp, org.apereo.cas:cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core.
What version fixes CVE-2020-27178?
Upgrading to 5.3.16, 6.1.7.2, 6.2.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is cas-server-webapp affected?
Yes, org.apereo.cas:cas-server-webapp is affected in releases prior to 5.3.16, 6.1.7.2, 6.2.4. Upgrade your dependency to 5.3.16, 6.1.7.2, 6.2.4 or later.
Is cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core affected?
Yes, org.apereo.cas:cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core is affected in releases prior to 5.3.16, 6.1.7.2, 6.2.4. Upgrade your dependency to 5.3.16, 6.1.7.2, 6.2.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-27178?
CVE-2020-27178 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-27178?
CVE-2020-27178 is classified under CWE-287: Improper Authentication (When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-27178?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apereo.cas'. 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-q39c-5vh5-vw2p",
  "modified" : "2021-07-26T18:43:04Z",
  "published" : "2021-08-02T16:47:10Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-27178" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Authentication in Apereo CAS",
  "details" : "Apereo CAS 5.3.x before 5.3.16, 6.x before 6.1.7.2, 6.2.x before 6.2.4, and 6.3.x before 6.3.0-RC4 mishandles secret keys with Google Authenticator for multifactor authentication.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apereo.cas:cas-server-webapp"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.3.16"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apereo.cas:cas-server-webapp"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "6.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "6.1.7.2"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 6.1.7.1"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apereo.cas:cas-server-webapp"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "6.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "6.2.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apereo.cas:cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.3.16"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apereo.cas:cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "6.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "6.1.7.2"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 6.1.7.1"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apereo.cas:cas-server-support-otp-mfa-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "6.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "6.2.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-27178"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://apereo.github.io/2020/10/14/gauthvuln"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-287" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-07-26T18:43:04Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-10-16T16:15:00Z"
  }
}