CVE-2021-36230 : What You Need to Know

HashiCorp Terraform Enterprise releases up to v202106-1 had a vulnerability that allowed privilege escalation to organization owner due to improper authorization checks on some API requests executed with the run token. The issue has been fixed in v202107-1.

Understanding CVE-2021-36230

This CVE highlights a security vulnerability in HashiCorp Terraform Enterprise versions up to v202106-1 that could lead to privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2021-36230?

The vulnerability in HashiCorp Terraform Enterprise versions up to v202106-1 allowed unauthorized privilege escalation to organization owner via run token API requests.

The Impact of CVE-2021-36230

The impact of this vulnerability was the potential privilege escalation, granting unauthorized access to sensitive data and functions within the organization.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-36230

The technical details involve the description of the vulnerability, affected systems, and the mechanism of exploitation.

Vulnerability Description

HashiCorp Terraform Enterprise failed to perform proper authorization checks on specific API requests executed using the run token, leading to unauthorized privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

All HashiCorp Terraform Enterprise versions up to v202106-1 were affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploited this vulnerability by utilizing the run token in API requests to escalate their privileges to organization owner level.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-36230, organizations must take immediate steps and implement long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is recommended to update HashiCorp Terraform Enterprise to version v202107-1 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should audit and monitor access rights and activities closely.

Long-Term Security Practices

Organizations should establish a robust access control policy, regularly update software, conduct security training for employees, and perform periodic security assessments.

Patching and Updates

HashiCorp has released a fix for this vulnerability in version v202107-1. It is crucial for users to promptly apply the patch to prevent potential exploitation.