Microsoft Entra ID vulnerability allows for authentication bypass
Recent studies have revealed that Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), a cloud-based identity and access management solution, can be exploited to bypass security protocols. Cybercriminals have found ways to manipulate the credential validation process, turning the pass-through authentication (PTA) agent into a tool that enables unauthorized access as any AD user. This opens up the possibility for them to gain entry to a global admin user account.
Insights from Security Experts
Sarah Jones, Cyber Threat Intelligence Research Analyst at Critical Start:
“A critical vulnerability has been identified within the PTA agent, a vital component of the Azure AD environment. This vulnerability allows threat actors with local administrative privileges on the PTA agent server to circumvent authentication controls, gaining unauthorized entry to any synchronized Active Directory user account. Such unauthorized access enables lateral movement within the network and potential privilege escalation to the level of a Global Administrator if such an account exists. While this vulnerability does not automatically grant global administrative rights, it creates an avenue for attackers to exploit existing privileged accounts. To mitigate this risk, organizations must enforce stringent security measures like restricted access to PTA agent servers, robust password policies, and mandatory multi-factor authentication.”
Rom Carmel, Co-Founder and CEO at Apono:
“In recent years, there has been an increase in the discovery of logical bugs, which are often harder to detect using automated tools. These bugs are typically related to validation faults or inconsistencies in the decision paths of code. Regarding the PTA agent vulnerability, it suggests that attackers could potentially elevate their privileges to that of a global admin user by leveraging the same credentials. This could be due to a synchronization error between on-premises Active Directory and Azure AD, causing different perceptions of the same identity. This is my interpretation based on the available information.”
Tal Mandel Bar, Product Manager at DoControl:
“The recent vulnerabilities in Microsoft Entra ID are alarming but not entirely unexpected. As cloud identity services become more integral to enterprise operations, they become prime targets for malicious actors. This discovery highlights the critical importance of robust SaaS security measures. While cloud identity services offer efficiency in access and management, they also introduce new security risks. Organizations must be proactive in securing these systems to protect against potential threats in our cloud-centric world.”
