CVE-2023-30841 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A detailed analysis of CVE-2023-30841 affecting the Baremetal Operator within Kubernetes.

Understanding CVE-2023-30841

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the Ironic and ironic-inspector components deployed within the Baremetal Operator, potentially exposing sensitive information as ConfigMaps.

What is CVE-2023-30841?

The vulnerability in Baremetal Operator prior to version 0.3.0 allows

.htpasswd

files to be stored as ConfigMaps instead of Secrets, exposing plaintext usernames and hashed passwords to unauthorized actors with read-access to the management cluster.

The Impact of CVE-2023-30841

If exploited, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, compromising the security of the Kubernetes cluster where Baremetal Operator is deployed.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-30841

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Ironic and ironic-inspector in Baremetal Operator store sensitive

.htpasswd

files as ConfigMaps instead of Secrets, allowing unauthorized access to plaintext credentials.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: metal3-io
Product: baremetal-operator
Vulnerable Versions: < 0.3.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with cluster-wide read-access or access to Etcd storage of the management cluster can exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive credentials.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent exploitation of CVE-2023-30841.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update to BMO release 0.3.0 or later, which includes the patch for this vulnerability. Alternatively, follow the instructions in baremetal-operator PR#1241 to modify ConfigMaps into Secrets.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update security configurations, restrict access to sensitive information, and monitor for unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for Baremetal Operator and apply patches promptly to mitigate potential risks.