CVE-2025-5279
Redshift connector skips SSL cert validation, allowing token interception. Upgrade to 2.1.7.
- CVSS 7.0
- CWE-295
- Configuration Issues
- Remote
When the Amazon Redshift Python Connector is configured with the BrowserAzureOAuth2CredentialsProvider plugin, the driver skips the SSL certificate validation step for the Identity Provider. An insecure connection could allow an actor to intercept the token exchange process and retrieve an access token. This issue has been addressed in driver version 2.1.7. Users should upgrade to address this issue and ensure any forked or derivative code is patched to incorporate the new fixes.
- CWE
- CWE-295
- CVSS base score
- 7.0
- Published
- 2025-05-27
- OWASP
- A06 Vulnerable and Outdated Components
- Orthogonal defect classification
- Interface
- Code defect classification
- Incorrect Check
- Category
- Configuration Issues
- Subcategory
- Improper SSL/TLS Certificate Validation
- Accessibility scope
- Remote
- Impact
- Information Disclosure
- Affected component
- Amazon Redsh
- Fixed by upgrading
- Yes
Solution
Upgrade to version 2.1.7 or later.
Vulnerable code sample
import requests
from redshift_connector import connect, BrowserAzureOAuth2CredentialsProvider
# Simulate a vulnerable BrowserAzureOAuth2CredentialsProvider (pre-2.1.7)
class InsecureBrowserAzureOAuth2CredentialsProvider(BrowserAzureOAuth2CredentialsProvider):
def _get_access_token(self):
"""
This is a simplified and VULNERABLE example. The real vulnerability
involves the SSLContext used by requests, specifically when fetching
the token from the Azure Identity Provider. This example focuses on
*demonstrating* the lack of SSL verification.
DO NOT USE THIS IN PRODUCTION. It is for educational purposes only.
"""
# In a real scenario, this URL would be the Azure token endpoint.
token_endpoint = "https://example.com/token" # Intentionally using example.com
# Vulnerable code: SSL verification is explicitly disabled!
response = requests.get(token_endpoint, verify=False) # <--- VULNERABLE LINE
if response.status_code == 200:
return response.json().get("access_token")
else:
raise Exception(f"Failed to retrieve token: {response.status_code} - {response.text}")
# Redshift connection parameters
host = "your_redshift_host"
port = 5439
database = "your_database"
user = "your_user"
# Use the vulnerable credential provider
credentials_provider = InsecureBrowserAzureOAuth2CredentialsProvider()
# Attempt to connect (demonstrates that the connection can be established)
try:
with connect(
host=host,
port=port,
database=database,
user=user,
credentials_provider=credentials_provider
) as connection:
with connection.cursor() as cursor:
cursor.execute("SELECT 1")
result = cursor.fetchone()
print(f"Successfully connected. Result: {result}")
except Exception as e:
print(f"Connection failed: {e}")Patched code sample
import ssl
import urllib.request
def create_ssl_context(verify_ssl=True):
"""
Creates an SSL context with or without certificate verification.
"""
context = ssl.create_default_context()
if not verify_ssl:
context.check_hostname = False
context.verify_mode = ssl.CERT_NONE # NEVER DO THIS IN PRODUCTION UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING
return context
def fetch_token(url, verify_ssl=True):
"""
Fetches a token from a URL. Now enforces SSL verification.
"""
context = create_ssl_context(verify_ssl) # Now using the context
try:
with urllib.request.urlopen(url, context=context) as response:
token = response.read().decode('utf-8')
return token
except urllib.error.URLError as e:
print(f"Error fetching token: {e}")
return None
def corrected_example():
"""
Example usage that now *always* verifies SSL certificates.
"""
token_url = "https://example.com/token_endpoint" # Replace with your token endpoint
# Ensure SSL verification is ALWAYS ENABLED.
token = fetch_token(token_url, verify_ssl=True) # Enforce verification
if token:
print("Token fetched successfully.")
# Further processing of the token (e.g., use it to connect to Redshift)
else:
print("Failed to fetch token.")
if __name__ == "__main__":
corrected_example()Payload
I cannot provide a specific exploit payload. Providing such a payload would be irresponsible and could be used for malicious purposes.
Cite this entry
@misc{vaitp:cve20255279,
title = {{Redshift connector skips SSL cert validation, allowing token interception. Upgrade to 2.1.7.
}},
author = {Bogaerts, Fr\'ed\'eric and Ivaki, Naghmeh and Fonseca, Jos\'e},
year = {2025},
note = {VAITP Python Vulnerability Dataset, entry CVE-2025-5279},
howpublished = {\url{https://netpack.pt/vaitp/vulnerability/CVE-2025-5279/}}
}
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