CVE-2020-14306 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2020-14306 is an incorrect access control vulnerability found in the openshift-service-mesh/istio-rhel8-operator, allowing attackers to deploy a custom gateway/pod to any namespace, potentially compromising data confidentiality, integrity, and system availability.

Understanding CVE-2020-14306

An incorrect access control flaw in the openshift-service-mesh/istio-rhel8-operator versions through 1.1.3 can lead to unauthorized deployment of pods, posing a risk to data and system security.

What is CVE-2020-14306?

This vulnerability enables attackers with basic cluster access to deploy malicious pods, potentially accessing privileged service account tokens and compromising data integrity, confidentiality, and system availability.

The Impact of CVE-2020-14306

The primary threat from CVE-2020-14306 is the compromise of sensitive data, system integrity, and availability due to unauthorized pod deployment in affected versions.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-14306

CVE-2020-14306 involves an incorrect access control flaw in openshift-service-mesh/istio-rhel8-operator versions through 1.1.3.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to deploy custom pods in any namespace, potentially accessing privileged service account tokens.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: openshift-service-mesh/istio-rhel8-operator
Versions affected: all versions through 1.1.3

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with basic cluster access can exploit this vulnerability to deploy malicious pods, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive service account tokens.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take:

Update to the latest patched version
Monitor for unauthorized pod deployments Long-Term Security Practices:
Implement least privilege access controls
Regularly audit and review cluster configurations Patching and Updates:
Apply security patches promptly to mitigate the vulnerability.