Privilege Escalation in Apache Syncope via JWT Misconfiguration

Executive Summary

This is an incorrect privilege assignment vulnerability in Apache Syncope. If an attacker discovers the JWKS settings used for internal JWT authentication, they can gain admin privileges after authenticating and obtaining a valid low-privilege JWT.

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Detection Guidance

Check Apache Syncope versions between 3.0.0-M0 to 3.0.16, 4.0.0-M0 to 4.0.7, and 4.1.0-M0 to 4.1.2. Verify if JWKS settings for internal JWT authentication are exposed. Look for exposed protocol and key details in logs or configuration files.

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Impact Analysis

An attacker could exploit this to escalate privileges to admin level, potentially gaining full control over the Apache Syncope system. This could lead to unauthorized access, data manipulation, or system compromise.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability allows attackers to gain admin privileges by exploiting disclosed JWKS settings, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data. This could violate GDPR's data protection requirements and HIPAA's safeguards for protected health information if exploited.

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Mitigation Strategies

Upgrade Apache Syncope to version 4.0.8, 4.1.3, or later. Ensure JWKS settings are not disclosed. Review and restrict access to authentication-related configurations.

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