CVE-2024-1132 is a path traversal vulnerability identified in Keycloak, an open-source identity and access management solution widely used for single sign-on and authentication services. The flaw stems from improper validation of URLs included in the redirect process after authentication. Specifically, when a client configures the Valid Redirect URIs field with wildcard entries, Keycloak fails to sufficiently restrict the pathname, allowing an attacker to craft a malicious redirect URL that bypasses these checks. This can lead to unauthorized access to other URLs within the domain, potentially exposing sensitive information or enabling further attacks such as phishing or session hijacking. The vulnerability requires user interaction, meaning the victim must click or be redirected to the malicious URL. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.1 reflects a high severity due to the network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but requiring user interaction, and significant impact on confidentiality and integrity. The vulnerability affects Keycloak versions 21.1.0 and 23.0.0, with no patches currently linked, and no known exploits in the wild as of the publication date. The underlying CWE is CWE-22, indicating improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, a classic path traversal issue. This vulnerability can undermine the security guarantees of Keycloak deployments, especially where wildcard redirects are used to simplify configuration but inadvertently introduce security risks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-1132 can be significant, especially for those relying on Keycloak for authentication and authorization in critical applications such as government portals, financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data, session hijacking, or redirection to malicious sites, undermining trust and compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR. The breach of confidentiality and integrity could result in regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction, phishing campaigns could be tailored to exploit this flaw, increasing the risk to end users. Organizations with complex redirect URI configurations using wildcards are particularly vulnerable. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high CVSS score indicates that once exploited, the consequences could be severe.

European organizations should immediately audit their Keycloak configurations to identify any use of wildcard entries in the Valid Redirect URIs field and replace them with explicit, tightly scoped URIs. Implement strict validation logic to ensure redirect URIs conform exactly to expected patterns without allowing path traversal sequences. Monitor user access logs for unusual redirect patterns or access attempts. Educate users about the risks of clicking on unsolicited or suspicious links to reduce the likelihood of successful phishing attacks exploiting this vulnerability. Stay informed about official Keycloak patches or updates addressing CVE-2024-1132 and apply them promptly once available. Consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block suspicious redirect attempts. Additionally, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to mitigate the impact of potential session hijacking. Conduct penetration testing focused on redirect URI validation to verify the effectiveness of mitigations.