CVE-2020-28972 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2020-28972 affecting SaltStack Salt authentication to VMware servers. Find out the impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps.
SaltStack Salt before 3002.5 does not always validate the SSL/TLS certificate when authenticating to VMware vcenter, vsphere, and esxi servers.
Understanding CVE-2020-28972
In this CVE, there is a vulnerability in SaltStack Salt that affects the authentication process to VMware servers.
What is CVE-2020-28972?
SaltStack Salt prior to version 3002.5 has a flaw where SSL/TLS certificates are not consistently validated during authentication to VMware vcenter, vsphere, and esxi servers.
The Impact of CVE-2020-28972
This vulnerability could allow an attacker to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, intercept sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions on the affected VMware servers.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-28972
SaltStack Salt before version 3002.5 is susceptible to SSL/TLS certificate validation issues.
Vulnerability Description
The authentication mechanism in SaltStack Salt does not consistently verify SSL/TLS certificates when connecting to VMware servers.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Vendor: n/a
- Product: n/a
- Versions: All versions prior to 3002.5 are affected.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by intercepting communication between SaltStack Salt and VMware servers due to the lack of proper SSL/TLS certificate validation.
Mitigation and Prevention
It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade SaltStack Salt to version 3002.5 or later to mitigate the SSL/TLS certificate validation issue.
- Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities that could indicate unauthorized access.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement strict SSL/TLS certificate validation practices in all network communications.
- Regularly update and patch SaltStack Salt and other software components to prevent security vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
- Apply the latest patches and updates provided by SaltStack to ensure the SSL/TLS certificate validation is consistently enforced.