CVE-2017-14695 : What You Need to Know

A security flaw related to directory traversal has been discovered in the minion id validation process of SaltStack Salt versions prior to 2016.3.8, 2016.11.x prior to 2016.11.8, and 2017.7.x prior to 2017.7.2. This vulnerability enables remote minions to authenticate to a master even if they provide incorrect credentials, by manipulating the minion ID. It is important to note that this vulnerability is a result of an incomplete fix for CVE-2017-12791.

Understanding CVE-2017-14695

This section provides an overview of the CVE-2017-14695 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2017-14695?

CVE-2017-14695 is a directory traversal vulnerability in the minion id validation process of SaltStack Salt versions before specific releases, allowing remote minions with incorrect credentials to authenticate to a master via a crafted minion ID.

The Impact of CVE-2017-14695

The vulnerability poses a significant security risk as it allows unauthorized access to SaltStack Salt masters, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-14695

This section delves into the technical aspects of CVE-2017-14695.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a flaw in the minion id validation process, enabling remote minions to bypass authentication by manipulating the minion ID.

Affected Systems and Versions

SaltStack Salt versions prior to 2016.3.8, 2016.11.x before 2016.11.8, and 2017.7.x prior to 2017.7.2 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious minion ID to gain unauthorized access to SaltStack Salt masters.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2017-14695.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update SaltStack Salt to versions 2016.3.8, 2016.11.8, or 2017.7.2 or later to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that may indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.
Regularly audit and review access controls to ensure the security of SaltStack Salt deployments.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by SaltStack to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2017-14695.