CVE-2022-40186 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise before version 1.11.3. The vulnerability in the Identity Engine allows for unintended access to key/value paths in Vault when an entity has multiple mount accessors with shared alias names.

Understanding CVE-2022-40186

This CVE identifies a security vulnerability in HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise that could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in the application.

What is CVE-2022-40186?

The vulnerability in HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise allows an attacker to access key/value paths in Vault due to improper checking of the proper alias assigned to an entity. This could result in unauthorized access to sensitive information.

The Impact of CVE-2022-40186

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it may lead to unauthorized access to key/value paths in HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized parties.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-40186

This section delves deeper into the specifics of the vulnerability, the affected systems, and how this vulnerability can be exploited.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an issue in the Identity Engine of HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise, where metadata can be overwritten to the wrong alias, leading to unintended access to key/value paths.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise prior to 1.11.3 are impacted by this vulnerability. Users are advised to upgrade to the latest version to mitigate the risk.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the improper checking of aliases in the Identity Engine to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss the steps that users and administrators can take to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2022-40186 and prevent potential exploitation of the vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise to version 1.11.3 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor access logs and unusual activities within the application for any signs of unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise to protect against known vulnerabilities.
Implement robust access control measures to restrict unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in Vault.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by HashiCorp and apply them promptly to ensure the security of your HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise installations.