CVE-2018-11749 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in RBAC LDAP configuration in Puppet Enterprise versions 2018.1.3, 2017.3.9, and 2016.4.14 allows user credentials to be transmitted in plaintext to the LDAP server during login.

Understanding CVE-2018-11749

This CVE relates to an improper authentication issue in Puppet Enterprise versions.

What is CVE-2018-11749?

The vulnerability involves RBAC LDAP configuration transmitting user credentials in plaintext to the LDAP server during login in affected Puppet Enterprise versions.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11749

The vulnerability poses a security risk as user credentials are exposed, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11749

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

RBAC LDAP configuration in affected Puppet Enterprise versions exposes user credentials during login.

Affected Systems and Versions

Puppet Enterprise versions 2018.1.3, 2017.3.9, and 2016.4.14 are impacted.

Exploitation Mechanism

User credentials are sent in plaintext to the LDAP server due to the startTLS configuration.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2018-11749 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to fixed versions: Puppet Enterprise 2018.1.4, 2017.3.10, or 2016.4.15.
Monitor LDAP traffic for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement encryption protocols for LDAP communication.
Regularly review and update RBAC configurations to enhance security.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Puppet to address the vulnerability.