CVE intelligence and bounded remediation

CVE-2019-3878 — A vulnerability was found in mod_auth_mellon before v0.14.2

High CVSS 8.1

A vulnerability was found in mod_auth_mellon before v0.14.2. If Apache is configured as a reverse proxy and mod_auth_mellon is configured to only let through authenticated users (with the require valid-user directive), adding special HTTP headers that are normally used to start the special SAML ECP (non-browser based) can be used to bypass authentication.

Severity
High
CVSS
8.1 (3.0)
Published
2019-03-26
CISA KEV
Not currently listed
Ecosystem
software/application
Weaknesses
CWE-305, CWE-287

Affected products

  • mod_auth_mellon_project / mod_auth_mellon
  • fedoraproject / fedora / 29
  • fedoraproject / fedora / 30
  • redhat / enterprise_linux / 7.0
  • redhat / enterprise_linux_desktop / 7.0
  • redhat / enterprise_linux_server / 7.0

Showing 6 representative product identities from 12 source matches. Confirm exact affected versions with the linked vendor and NVD evidence.

Matched remediation archetype

Authentication bypass and missing authentication

This catalog composition supplies bounded fallback guidance. Explicitly reviewed curated workflows load with the complete record below.

Check exposure

  • Map every affected endpoint and protocol path, including alternate ports, legacy routes, recovery flows, service accounts, and machine-to-machine access.
  • Confirm which deployments enable the affected authentication mode and whether the interface is reachable from untrusted networks.
  • Review session, token, credential, and proxy trust configuration without attempting account takeover.

Remediate safely

  • Apply the supported fix and centralize fail-closed authentication before protected request handling.
  • Remove default or embedded credentials, rotate affected secrets and sessions, and bind authentication decisions to the intended audience and channel.
  • Add negative tests for alternate routes, malformed or absent credentials, recovery flows, and proxy-derived identity.

Authoritative sources

Complete CVE record and remediation plan

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