CVE-2021-38698 : Security Advisory and Response

HashiCorp Consul and Consul Enterprise 1.10.1 Txn.Apply endpoint allowed services to register proxies for other services, enabling access to service traffic. Fixed in 1.8.15, 1.9.9 and 1.10.2.

Understanding CVE-2021-38698

This CVE refers to an issue in HashiCorp Consul and Consul Enterprise 1.10.1 that allowed services to register proxies for other services, potentially granting unauthorized access to service traffic.

What is CVE-2021-38698?

The CVE-2021-38698 vulnerability in HashiCorp Consul and Consul Enterprise 1.10.1 allowed services to register proxies for other services, resulting in unauthorized access to service traffic. The issue was addressed in versions 1.8.15, 1.9.9, and 1.10.2.

The Impact of CVE-2021-38698

Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized parties accessing sensitive service traffic, potentially resulting in data breaches or other security incidents.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-38698

In this section, we will delve deeper into the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

HashiCorp Consul and Consul Enterprise 1.10.1's Txn.Apply endpoint allowed services to register proxies for other services, enabling unauthorized access to service traffic.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts HashiCorp Consul and Consul Enterprise 1.10.1 versions. It is crucial to update to the fixed versions – 1.8.15, 1.9.9, or 1.10.2 to mitigate the risk.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the vulnerable Txn.Apply endpoint, attackers could register proxies for services they are not authorized to access, leading to unauthorized access to service traffic.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here we discuss the immediate steps to take, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is essential to update affected HashiCorp Consul and Consul Enterprise installations to versions 1.8.15, 1.9.9, or 1.10.2 to remediate the vulnerability. Additionally, review access controls and ensure services only register proxies for authorized services.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement robust access control measures, conduct regular security assessments, and stay informed about software vulnerabilities to enhance long-term security posture.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches and updates provided by HashiCorp to stay protected against known vulnerabilities and ensure the integrity of your Consul and Consul Enterprise deployments.