CVE-2021-36780 : What You Need to Know

A Missing Authentication for Critical Function vulnerability in longhorn of SUSE Longhorn allows attackers to connect to a longhorn-engine replica instance, granting them the ability to read and write data to and from a replica that they should not have access to. This vulnerability affects SUSE Longhorn versions prior to 1.1.3 and longhorn versions prior to 1.2.3v.

Understanding CVE-2021-36780

This CVE identifies a security issue in SUSE Longhorn that could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to data through vulnerable instance manager pods.

What is CVE-2021-36780?

CVE-2021-36780 is a Missing Authentication for Critical Function vulnerability found in SUSE Longhorn, allowing unauthorized data access from replicas through vulnerable instance manager pods.

The Impact of CVE-2021-36780

This vulnerability has a high severity level with a CVSS base score of 8.1. It can lead to unauthorized access to critical data within affected environments, posing a significant risk of confidentiality and integrity breaches.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-36780

This section provides detailed technical information related to the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in SUSE Longhorn allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, gaining access to data in replicas not meant for their use.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts SUSE Longhorn versions prior to 1.1.3 and 1.2.3v.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by connecting to a longhorn-engine replica instance, enabling unauthorized read and write operations on sensitive data.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems against CVE-2021-36780 is crucial to prevent unauthorized data access and maintain data integrity.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update SUSE Longhorn to versions 1.1.3 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement network security measures to restrict unauthorized access to critical pods.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security updates and patches for SUSE Longhorn.
Conduct security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities in the environment.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the official SUSE Longhorn advisories for patching instructions and updates.