CVE-2020-25660 : What You Need to Know

A flaw in the Cephx authentication protocol in versions before 15.2.6 and before 14.2.14 allows attackers to perform actions via replay attacks in Nautilus.

Understanding CVE-2020-25660

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in the Ceph storage system that could be exploited by attackers to compromise system integrity and confidentiality.

What is CVE-2020-25660?

The vulnerability lies in the Cephx authentication protocol, allowing unauthorized access to the Ceph service.
Attackers can exploit this flaw to authenticate with the Ceph service via a packet sniffer and perform unauthorized actions.
It is a reintroduction of CVE-2018-1128, affecting the msgr2 protocol used for communication.

The Impact of CVE-2020-25660

The vulnerability poses a significant threat to system confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-25660

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the Cephx authentication protocol allows unauthorized access to the Ceph service, leading to potential data breaches and system compromise.

Affected Systems and Versions

All Ceph versions before 15.2.6 and before 14.2.14 are vulnerable to this exploit.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with access to the Ceph cluster network can exploit the vulnerability via replay attacks in the Nautilus release.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-25660 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Ceph to versions 15.2.6 or 14.2.14 to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate an ongoing attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong network segmentation to limit access to critical systems.
Regularly audit and review access controls to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches and updates to the Ceph software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.