Discover the impact of CVE-2021-3917, a flaw in coreos-installer allowing local attackers to access sensitive data. Learn about the vulnerability, affected versions, and mitigation steps.
A flaw in the coreos-installer allows a local attacker to read potentially sensitive data due to incorrect default permissions.
Understanding CVE-2021-3917
This CVE identifies a vulnerability in coreos-installer that can lead to a confidentiality breach by granting unauthorized access to confidential information.
What is CVE-2021-3917?
The flaw in coreos-installer results in the Ignition config being written to the target system with world-readable access, enabling a local attacker to read sensitive data, posing a threat to confidentiality.
The Impact of CVE-2021-3917
The highest impact from this vulnerability is to confidentiality, as it allows unauthorized parties to access potentially sensitive data.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-3917
The vulnerability stemmed from coreos-installer writing the Ignition configuration to the target system with world-readable access permissions.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw in coreos-installer allows a local attacker to gain read access to sensitive data stored in the Ignition config, posing a risk to confidentiality.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects coreos-installer versions prior to 0.10.0.
Exploitation Mechanism
A local attacker can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the incorrect default permissions set by coreos-installer, allowing them to access confidential information.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2021-3917, immediate steps must be taken to secure systems and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Immediate Steps to Take
Upgrade coreos-installer to version 0.10.0 or later to mitigate the vulnerability and secure the system against unauthorized access.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement a robust security policy, access control mechanisms, and regular security patches to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.
Patching and Updates
Regularly apply security patches and updates for coreos-installer to ensure system security and protect against known vulnerabilities.