CVE-2020-9301 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A security vulnerability was identified in Netflix Spinnaker, allowing an attacker to read and write arbitrary files within the orca container via authenticated HTTP POST requests.

Understanding CVE-2020-9301

Nolan Ray from Apple Information Security discovered a security flaw in Spinnaker, affecting versions prior to 1.23.4, 1.22.4, or 1.21.5.

What is CVE-2020-9301?

The vulnerability in Netflix Spinnaker allows attackers to manipulate SpEL expressions to access and modify files within the orca container.

The Impact of CVE-2020-9301

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access and modification of sensitive files, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of data.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-9301

The technical aspects of the vulnerability in Netflix Spinnaker.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw arises from improper handling of SpEL expressions, enabling attackers to exploit authenticated HTTP POST requests to access and modify files.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Netflix Spinnaker
Versions Affected: All versions prior to 1.23.4, 1.22.4, or 1.21.5

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can leverage the vulnerability by manipulating SpEL expressions through authenticated HTTP POST requests to gain unauthorized access to files within the orca container.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent the CVE-2020-9301 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Netflix Spinnaker to version 1.23.4, 1.22.4, or 1.21.5 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict network access to prevent unauthorized HTTP POST requests.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security audits and code reviews to identify and address vulnerabilities promptly.
Educate users and developers on secure coding practices to prevent similar exploits.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update and patch Netflix Spinnaker to ensure the latest security fixes are in place.