CVE-2021-27400 : What You Need to Know

HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise Cassandra integrations had a vulnerability where they did not validate TLS certificates when connecting to Cassandra clusters. This issue has been fixed in versions 1.6.4 and 1.7.1.

Understanding CVE-2021-27400

This CVE pertains to the lack of TLS certificate validation in HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise Cassandra integrations.

What is CVE-2021-27400?

The vulnerability in HashiCorp Vault allowed malicious actors to potentially intercept communication between the Vault tool and Cassandra clusters due to the absence of TLS certificate validation.

The Impact of CVE-2021-27400

Without the proper TLS certificate validation, sensitive data could be exposed to unauthorized parties, leading to potential data breaches and security compromises.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-27400

The technical details of this CVE include:

Vulnerability Description

HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise Cassandra integrations failed to validate TLS certificates, leaving communications susceptible to interception.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions prior to 1.6.4 and 1.7.1 of HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise with Cassandra integrations were affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by intercepting the unvalidated communication between HashiCorp Vault and Cassandra clusters, potentially gaining access to confidential information.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-27400, users and organizations should take the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise to version 1.6.4 or 1.7.1 to fix the TLS certificate validation issue.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security audits and assessments to identify vulnerabilities promptly.
Educate personnel on best practices for securing sensitive communications and data.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by HashiCorp and apply them promptly to ensure system security.