CVE-2019-3891 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A log file owned by the Candlepin component of Red Hat Satellite 6.4 was found to be readable by anyone, exposing login details for the Candlepin database. This vulnerability could allow a malicious user to manipulate the database, impacting Satellite's ability to retrieve package updates.

Understanding CVE-2019-3891

This CVE involves a security issue in Red Hat Satellite 6.4 related to the exposure of sensitive database credentials.

What is CVE-2019-3891?

The vulnerability in the Candlepin component of Red Hat Satellite 6.4 allows unauthorized access to database login details, potentially leading to database manipulation by malicious actors.

The Impact of CVE-2019-3891

The exposure of database credentials could hinder Satellite's package update retrieval, causing all Satellite hosts to lose access to critical updates.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-3891

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from a world-readable log file in the Candlepin component, leaking sensitive database credentials.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Candlepin
Vendor: Red Hat
Affected Version: Satellite 6.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Vector String: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Base Score: 5.5 (Medium Severity)

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-3891 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Restrict physical access to Satellite hosts to prevent unauthorized manipulation of the database.
Monitor and restrict access to sensitive log files containing credentials.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update access controls for log files and databases.
Implement strong authentication mechanisms to secure database credentials.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Red Hat to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.