CVE-2020-27746 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Slurm before 19.05.8 and 20.x before 20.02.6 exposes Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor due to a race condition affecting xauth for X11 magic cookies in the /proc filesystem.

Understanding CVE-2020-27746

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Slurm that can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information.

What is CVE-2020-27746?

CVE-2020-27746 is a security vulnerability in Slurm versions before 19.05.8 and 20.x before 20.02.6 that allows an unauthorized actor to access sensitive information.

The Impact of CVE-2020-27746

The vulnerability exposes sensitive information to unauthorized actors, potentially leading to data breaches and unauthorized access to systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-27746

Slurm before 19.05.8 and 20.x before 20.02.6 are affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from a race condition in a read operation on the /proc filesystem, affecting xauth for X11 magic cookies.

Affected Systems and Versions

Slurm versions before 19.05.8
Slurm 20.x versions before 20.02.6

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by taking advantage of the race condition in the read operation on the /proc filesystem, allowing unauthorized actors to access sensitive information.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Slurm to version 19.05.8 or 20.x to version 20.02.6, which contain fixes for the vulnerability.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to ensure the latest security fixes are in place.
Implement access controls and restrictions to limit unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Slurm to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.