CVE-2020-24359 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

HashiCorp vault-ssh-helper up to and including version 0.1.6 incorrectly accepted Vault-issued SSH OTPs for the subnet in which a host's network interface was located, rather than the specific IP address assigned to that interface. Fixed in 0.2.0.

Understanding CVE-2020-24359

HashiCorp vault-ssh-helper vulnerability allowing incorrect acceptance of SSH OTPs.

What is CVE-2020-24359?

The vulnerability in HashiCorp vault-ssh-helper allowed the acceptance of Vault-issued SSH OTPs based on the subnet of a host's network interface instead of the specific IP address.

The Impact of CVE-2020-24359

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to systems due to the incorrect validation of SSH OTPs.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-24359

HashiCorp vault-ssh-helper vulnerability technical specifics.

Vulnerability Description

The issue allowed SSH OTPs to be accepted based on the subnet, potentially granting unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Systems running HashiCorp vault-ssh-helper up to version 0.1.6

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this by generating SSH OTPs for the correct subnet, bypassing IP-specific validation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2020-24359 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to version 0.2.0 of HashiCorp vault-ssh-helper to fix the vulnerability.
Implement IP-specific validation for SSH OTPs.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest versions to address security flaws.
Conduct security audits to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by HashiCorp to address vulnerabilities.