CVE-2025-5279 Overview
CVE-2025-5279 is a certificate validation bypass vulnerability in the Amazon Redshift Python Connector. When configured with the BrowserAzureOAuth2CredentialsProvider plugin, the driver fails to validate SSL certificates from the Identity Provider during the authentication process. This improper certificate validation flaw (CWE-295) allows attackers in a network position to intercept the OAuth2 token exchange and steal access tokens, potentially leading to unauthorized access to Amazon Redshift data warehouses.
Critical Impact
An attacker performing a man-in-the-middle attack can intercept OAuth2 tokens and gain unauthorized access to Amazon Redshift clusters and sensitive data.
Affected Products
- Amazon Redshift Python Connector versions prior to 2.1.7
- Configurations using the BrowserAzureOAuth2CredentialsProvider plugin
- Any forked or derivative code based on vulnerable versions
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-05-27 - CVE-2025-5279 published to NVD
- 2025-10-14 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-5279
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability stems from improper SSL/TLS certificate validation when the Amazon Redshift Python Connector authenticates using Azure Active Directory via the BrowserAzureOAuth2CredentialsProvider plugin. During the OAuth2 authentication flow, the connector communicates with Azure AD to obtain access tokens. However, vulnerable versions skip the SSL certificate verification step when establishing this connection.
This oversight creates a significant security gap where the connector accepts any SSL certificate presented by the server, including self-signed or malicious certificates. An attacker positioned between the client and the Identity Provider can present a fraudulent certificate, establish a trusted connection with the victim, and intercept the OAuth2 token exchange.
The impact extends beyond the immediate token theft. Captured access tokens can be replayed to authenticate to Amazon Redshift clusters, granting attackers the same database access privileges as the compromised user.
Root Cause
The root cause is the failure to properly implement SSL certificate chain validation in the BrowserAzureOAuth2CredentialsProvider authentication plugin. The connector neglects to verify that the Identity Provider's SSL certificate is signed by a trusted Certificate Authority and matches the expected hostname.
Attack Vector
The attack requires network-level access to intercept traffic between the victim's application and Azure AD. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability through:
- Man-in-the-Middle Position: The attacker intercepts network traffic between the Python application and Azure AD endpoints
- Certificate Substitution: The attacker presents their own SSL certificate, which the vulnerable driver accepts without validation
- Token Interception: The OAuth2 authorization code and access tokens are captured during the authentication flow
- Token Replay: Stolen tokens are used to authenticate to Amazon Redshift as the victim
This attack is particularly effective in shared network environments, public Wi-Fi networks, or compromised enterprise networks where attackers can perform ARP spoofing or DNS hijacking.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-5279
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected SSL certificate warnings or errors in network logs that were previously suppressed
- Authentication traffic to Azure AD endpoints originating from unexpected IP addresses
- Multiple Redshift authentication attempts from different geographic locations for the same user
- Anomalous OAuth2 token usage patterns indicating token replay attacks
Detection Strategies
- Monitor network traffic for SSL/TLS connections to Azure AD that exhibit certificate anomalies or mismatches
- Implement network intrusion detection rules to identify potential MITM attack patterns targeting OAuth2 flows
- Review application logs for connections using the BrowserAzureOAuth2CredentialsProvider plugin on vulnerable driver versions
- Audit Amazon Redshift access logs for unusual authentication patterns or access from unexpected sources
Monitoring Recommendations
- Deploy TLS inspection capabilities to verify certificate chains for OAuth2 authentication traffic
- Enable enhanced logging for the Amazon Redshift Python Connector to capture authentication flow details
- Configure SIEM alerts for authentication anomalies involving Azure AD and Redshift resources
- Monitor for driver version usage across applications to identify deployments running vulnerable versions
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-5279
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade the Amazon Redshift Python Connector to version 2.1.7 or later immediately
- Audit all applications using the BrowserAzureOAuth2CredentialsProvider plugin to ensure they use the patched version
- Review any forked or derivative code to incorporate the certificate validation fixes
- Rotate credentials and revoke any potentially compromised OAuth2 tokens
- Consider temporary use of alternative authentication methods until patching is complete
Patch Information
Amazon has released version 2.1.7 of the Amazon Redshift Python Connector which addresses this vulnerability by implementing proper SSL certificate validation for Identity Provider connections. The fix ensures that all SSL/TLS connections verify the certificate chain and hostname before proceeding with authentication.
For detailed information, refer to the AWS Security Bulletin 2025-011, the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-r244-wg5g-6w2r, and the GitHub Release v2.1.7.
Workarounds
- Use alternative authentication plugins that properly validate SSL certificates until the driver can be upgraded
- Implement network-level protections such as VPN or private network connections to reduce MITM attack surface
- Enable certificate pinning at the network layer for connections to Azure AD endpoints
- Deploy network monitoring to detect and alert on potential MITM attacks targeting authentication traffic
# Upgrade Amazon Redshift Python Connector to patched version
pip install --upgrade amazon-redshift-connector>=2.1.7
# Verify installed version
pip show amazon-redshift-connector | grep Version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
