CVE-2021-39174 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Cachet is an open source status page system that was affected by a configuration leak vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2021-39174

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the Cachet system that allows authenticated users to leak sensitive information from the dotenv file.

What is CVE-2021-39174?

The CVE-2021-39174 vulnerability in Cachet allows authenticated users, regardless of their privileges, to expose sensitive configuration entries like application secrets and passwords.

The Impact of CVE-2021-39174

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 8.8 (High) with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attack complexity is low, and no user interaction is required.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-39174

This section provides more detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue allows leakage of dotenv file entries, including the application secret (

APP_KEY

) and various passwords, by authenticated users.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cachet
Vendor: fiveai
Affected Version: < 2.5.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: Low
Scope: Unchanged
User Interaction: None

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate the CVE-2021-39174 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Cachet to version 2.5.1 or higher where the issue has been addressed.
Restrict access to the administration dashboard to trusted IP addresses.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update access control policies.
Educate users about secure handling of sensitive information.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates promptly to ensure software is protected against known vulnerabilities.