CVE-2017-12791 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

SaltStack Salt before versions 2016.11.7 and 2017.7.x before 2017.7.1 is vulnerable to a directory traversal flaw allowing remote minions to authenticate to a master by exploiting a minion ID validation issue.

Understanding CVE-2017-12791

SaltStack Salt versions 2016.11.7 and 2017.7.x are susceptible to a security vulnerability that enables remote minions with incorrect credentials to authenticate to a master through a crafted minion ID.

What is CVE-2017-12791?

The vulnerability in SaltStack Salt before versions 2016.11.7 and 2017.7.x before 2017.7.1 allows remote minions to authenticate to a master by exploiting a minion ID validation flaw. This can occur when the remote minions possess invalid credentials. The flaw involves directory traversal.

The Impact of CVE-2017-12791

Remote minions with incorrect credentials can authenticate to a master through a crafted minion ID.
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to SaltStack Salt masters.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-12791

SaltStack Salt versions 2016.11.7 and 2017.7.x are affected by a critical security flaw.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves a directory traversal issue in minion ID validation, allowing unauthorized access to the master.

Affected Systems and Versions

SaltStack Salt versions before 2016.11.7 and 2017.7.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging incorrect credentials to authenticate to a master using a manipulated minion ID.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade SaltStack Salt to versions 2016.11.7 or 2017.7.1 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict network access to SaltStack Salt masters.
Implement strong authentication mechanisms for SaltStack Salt communication.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch SaltStack Salt to the latest versions.
Conduct security audits and assessments to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by SaltStack to fix the directory traversal vulnerability.