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CVE-2017-12872: The (1) Htpasswd authentication source in the authcrypt module and (2) SimpleSAML_Session class in SimpleSA...

The (1) Htpasswd authentication source in the authcrypt module and (2) SimpleSAML_Session class in SimpleSAMLphp 1.14.11 and earlier allow remote attackers to conduct timing side-channel attacks by leveraging use of the standard comparison operator to compare secret material against user input.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

SimpleSAMLphp 1.14.11 and earlier compared secret values in a way that could leak information through response timing. For organizations using SimpleSAMLphp for authentication or single sign-on, this affects trust boundaries around login and session handling, but the supplied sources do not show active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate authentication security issue. Prioritize remediation where SimpleSAMLphp protects employee, customer, or federation login flows, especially internet-facing services.

Technical view

CVE-2017-12872 affects the authcrypt Htpasswd authentication source and SimpleSAML_Session class in SimpleSAMLphp 1.14.11 and earlier. The issue is use of a standard comparison operator for secret material against user input, enabling remote timing side-channel attacks.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to environments running SimpleSAMLphp 1.14.11 or earlier, especially those using authcrypt Htpasswd authentication or vulnerable session comparison paths.

Exploitation context

The CVE states remote attackers can conduct timing side-channel attacks. CISA KEV is false in the supplied data, and no cited source here confirms exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

Evidence is sparse: no CVSS, CWE, CPE, or exploit-status details are supplied. Analysis should stay anchored to the timing side-channel description and the named SimpleSAMLphp components.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify all SimpleSAMLphp deployments and versions.
  • Check the SimpleSAMLphp advisory for fixed release guidance.
  • Apply applicable Debian LTS SimpleSAMLphp security updates where relevant.
  • Prioritize externally reachable authentication and SSO systems.
  • Retire or isolate unsupported SimpleSAMLphp 1.14.11 or earlier deployments.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether SimpleSAMLphp version is 1.14.11 or earlier.
  • Check whether authcrypt Htpasswd authentication is configured.
  • Review package history for the referenced Debian LTS updates.
  • Verify vendor advisory guidance has been applied.
  • Document exposed authentication endpoints using SimpleSAMLphp.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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description · low confidence lookup

Credential and access behavior lookup

The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2017-12872 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.