CVE-2019-14854 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

OpenShift Container Platform 4.x vulnerability allows unauthorized access to sensitive data in pod logs.

Understanding CVE-2019-14854

When the log level of a specific operator is set to Debug or higher in OpenShift Container Platform 4, secret data written to static pod logs is not properly sanitized, potentially exposing sensitive information.

What is CVE-2019-14854?

This CVE highlights a security vulnerability in OpenShift Container Platform 4.x that could lead to unauthorized access to confidential data in pod logs.

The Impact of CVE-2019-14854

Confidentiality Impact: High
Base Score: 5.3 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
Attack Complexity: High

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14854

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises when secret data in static pod logs is not properly sanitized, potentially allowing low privileged users to access sensitive information.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: library-go
Vendor: Red Hat
Versions Affected: As shipped with Openshift 4.x

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized users can exploit this vulnerability by accessing pod logs with elevated log levels set by privileged users.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor and restrict log levels to prevent unauthorized access.
Regularly review and sanitize pod logs to remove sensitive data.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement least privilege access controls for log settings.
Conduct regular security audits and updates to address vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Red Hat to address this vulnerability.