CVE-2018-3829 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in earlier versions of Elastic Cloud Enterprise (ECE) up to version 1.1.4 allowed unauthorized access to data from other clusters.

Understanding CVE-2018-3829

This CVE identifies a security issue in Elastic Cloud Enterprise (ECE) versions before 1.1.4, enabling attackers to add allocators to existing installations and potentially gain unauthorized access to cluster data.

What is CVE-2018-3829?

In Elastic Cloud Enterprise (ECE) versions prior to 1.1.4, a vulnerability existed that permitted users to scale out allocators on new hosts using an invalid roles token. Attackers, with access to specific information, could exploit this to infiltrate other clusters within the ECE environment.

The Impact of CVE-2018-3829

The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data from other clusters within the ECE installation, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-3829

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allowed attackers to add allocators to an existing ECE installation by leveraging an invalid roles token, potentially compromising data from other clusters.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Elastic Cloud Enterprise
Vendor: Elastic
Versions Affected: Before 1.1.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit the vulnerability by having access to the previous runner ID and IP address of the coordinator-host, enabling them to add an allocator to the ECE installation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-3829 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Elastic Cloud Enterprise to version 1.1.4 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict access to sensitive information within the ECE environment.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.
Regularly audit and review system configurations to identify and address security gaps.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Elastic for Elastic Cloud Enterprise.
Promptly apply patches to ensure the system is protected against known vulnerabilities.