CVE-2017-2299 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

CVE-2017-2299 was published on September 14, 2017, affecting the puppetlabs-apache module versions prior to 1.11.1 and 2.1.0. This vulnerability pertains to TLS trust configuration issues.

Understanding CVE-2017-2299

The CVE-2017-2299 vulnerability in the puppetlabs-apache module allows for unsafe defaults affecting access controls.

What is CVE-2017-2299?

The puppetlabs-apache module versions before 1.11.1 and 2.1.0 have a flaw in TLS trust configuration. Incorrectly setting the

ssl_ca

parameter without

ssl_certs_dir

leads to a default value being used for

ssl_certs_dir

, trusting certificates from all system-trusted CAs.

The Impact of CVE-2017-2299

Misconfiguration of TLS trust due to default settings in affected versions
System-trusted certificate authorities are automatically trusted
FreeBSD systems are not impacted by this vulnerability

Technical Details of CVE-2017-2299

The technical details of CVE-2017-2299 provide insight into the vulnerability and its implications.

Vulnerability Description

Versions of puppetlabs-apache module prior to 1.11.1 and 2.1.0 make it easy to misconfigure TLS trust. Failure to specify

ssl_certs_dir

when setting

ssl_ca

results in automatic trust for certificates from system-trusted CAs.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: puppetlabs-apache
Vendor: Puppet
Vulnerable Versions: prior to 1.11.1 and 2.1.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises from the default behavior of the module when

ssl_ca

is set without

ssl_certs_dir

, leading to unintended trust in certificates.

Mitigation and Prevention

Addressing CVE-2017-2299 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to version 1.11.1 or 2.1.0 of the puppetlabs-apache module
Ensure proper configuration of

ssl_ca

and

ssl_certs_dir

parameters

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update TLS configurations
Implement least privilege access controls

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Puppet for the puppetlabs-apache module
Stay informed about security updates and best practices