CVE-2022-21951 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information vulnerability in SUSE Rancher allows attackers to read and modify network data due to missing encryption. This affects Rancher versions prior to 2.5.14 and 2.6.5.

Understanding CVE-2022-21951

This CVE pertains to a vulnerability in SUSE Rancher that exposes sensitive information due to a lack of encryption, enabling attackers to manipulate data over the network.

What is CVE-2022-21951?

The CVE-2022-21951 vulnerability in SUSE Rancher allows malicious actors to intercept and modify network data because of the absence of encryption when creating a cluster with specific configurations.

The Impact of CVE-2022-21951

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium severity, with high confidentiality and integrity impacts. It requires low privileges and has a high attack complexity via network access.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-21951

This section provides more insight into the vulnerability affecting SUSE Rancher.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a missing encryption mechanism, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information transmitted over the network during cluster creation.

Affected Systems and Versions

SUSE Rancher versions prior to 2.5.14 and 2.6.5 are vulnerable to this exploit, putting network data at risk of interception and modification.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging network access to intercept unencrypted data, leading to potential misuse or manipulation of critical information.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-21951 and enhance system security, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update SUSE Rancher to versions 2.5.14 or higher to patch the vulnerability and enable encryption of sensitive data transmissions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure communication protocols and encryption mechanisms to safeguard network data against interception and tampering attempts.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitor security advisories and apply updates promptly to address known vulnerabilities and enhance overall system resilience.