CVE-2021-23127

[20210301] - Core - Insecure randomness within 2FA secret generation

published March 4, 2021

CVSS
—
EPSS
1%
Percentile
71.9
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A 10-byte secret sounds like a clever shortcut, but it puts your 2FA at risk! This vulnerability in Joomla! could leave your accounts more exposed than a beach towel in a summer storm! 🌧️ Think of your 2FA secret like a password for a vault. If the password is too short, a crafty thief can brute-force their way in, much like how a flimsy lock can be picked with just a paperclip. The RFC 4226 suggests a 20-byte code for a reason! With only a 10-byte secret for your two-factor authentication, attackers could potentially crack the code and gain unauthorized access to accounts. This could lead to data breaches or compromised sensitive information, which would be absolutely devastating for both users and admins alike!

Put simply

Think of your 2FA secret like a password for a vault. If the password is too short, a crafty thief can brute-force their way in, much like how a flimsy lock can be picked with just a paperclip. The RFC 4226 suggests a 20-byte code for a reason! This vulnerability arises from Joomla!'s use of a shorter-than-recommended secret length for two-factor authentication, specifically falling short of the 20-byte standard outlined in RFC 4226. As a result, it weakens the security of the 2FA mechanism, making it more susceptible to brute-force attacks.

What to do

With only a 10-byte secret for your two-factor authentication, attackers could potentially crack the code and gain unauthorized access to accounts. This could lead to data breaches or compromised sensitive information, which would be absolutely devastating for both users and admins alike! To mitigate this risk, ensure you're using Joomla! version 3.9.25 or later, where this issue is resolved. Additionally, review your 2FA configurations and consider implementing stronger secrets to enhance security. Don't forget to educate users about password best practices and the importance of longer secret keys! You've got this! By updating and securing your secrets, you're taking a huge step toward being a security hero! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01380 · 71.9th percentile
Published
2021-03-04T17:37Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 04 MAR 17:37Z
    [20210301] - Core - Insecure randomness within 2FA secret generation
    cvelistv5