CVE-2023-3299 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This is a detailed overview of CVE-2023-3299, a vulnerability identified in HashiCorp Nomad Enterprise.

Understanding CVE-2023-3299

CVE-2023-3299 affects HashiCorp Nomad Enterprise versions 1.2.11 up to 1.5.6 and 1.4.10. The vulnerability lies in ACL policies utilizing a block without a label, which leads to unexpected outcomes. This issue has been addressed in versions 1.6.0, 1.5.7, and 1.4.11.

What is CVE-2023-3299?

The vulnerability in CVE-2023-3299 pertains to HashiCorp Nomad Enterprise, where ACL policies using a block without a label can result in unexpected behaviors, potentially exposing sensitive information.

The Impact of CVE-2023-3299

The impact of this vulnerability, designated as CAPEC-122 "Privilege Abuse," could allow threat actors to abuse privileges associated with the exposed ACL token's Secret ID in Nomad Caller. This could lead to unauthorized access and misuse of resources.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-3299

HashiCorp Nomad Enterprise versions 1.2.11 up to 1.5.6 and 1.4.10 are susceptible to the vulnerability. The issue arises from ACL policies that lack a label, causing the system to produce unexpected results.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit ACL policies to gain unauthorized access and potentially compromise the confidentiality of sensitive information.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected systems include HashiCorp Nomad Enterprise versions 1.2.11 up to 1.5.6 and 1.4.10. Users of these versions are at risk of exploitation if ACL policies are misconfigured.

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating ACL policies using a block without a label, threat actors can exploit the vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information in HashiCorp Nomad Enterprise.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-3299 and prevent potential exploitation, users should take the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to the fixed versions of HashiCorp Nomad Enterprise (1.6.0, 1.5.7, or 1.4.11) to mitigate the vulnerability.
Review and update ACL policies to ensure proper labeling and configuration to avoid unexpected outcomes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to the latest versions to eliminate known vulnerabilities.
Implement comprehensive security practices and conduct regular security assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

HashiCorp has released patches in versions 1.6.0, 1.5.7, and 1.4.11 to mitigate CVE-2023-3299. It is crucial for users to apply these patches promptly to secure their systems from exploitation.