CVE-2022-39238 : Security Advisory and Response

Arvados is an open source platform for managing and analyzing biomedical big data. A vulnerability in versions prior to 2.4.3 allows improper authentication when using Portable Authentication Modules (PAM) for user authentication.

Understanding CVE-2022-39238

This CVE highlights a security flaw in Arvados that can lead to unauthorized access when using PAM as the identity provider.

What is CVE-2022-39238?

In Arvados versions below 2.4.3, valid credentials presented by users through PAM may still be accepted even if the account is disabled or not permitted to access the host.

The Impact of CVE-2022-39238

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk, with an attack complexity of high. However, other authentication methods like LDAP and OpenID Connect are not affected.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-39238

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

When PAM is used for authentication, Arvados does not correctly verify the account status, allowing unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions prior to 2.4.3 of Arvados are vulnerable to this issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

Users with valid credentials can gain access even if their account is disabled or not allowed.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2022-39238, consider the following steps.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Arvados to version 2.4.3 or above to apply the necessary patch.

Long-Term Security Practices

Migrate to alternative authentication methods such as LDAP to reduce dependency on PAM.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply software updates and security patches to stay protected against potential vulnerabilities.