Vault: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
CVE-2023-5077 is a high-severity incorrect permission assignment for critical resource vulnerability in Vault from HashiCorp, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 1.13.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating Vault to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.51% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Vault to 1.13.0 or a later version.
- Update Vault Enterprise to 1.13.0 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on discuss.hashicorp.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| HashiCorp | Vault | 0.10.0 up to, but not including, 1.13.0; 00.10.0 up to, but not including, 1.13.0 | 1.13.0 |
| HashiCorp | Vault Enterprise | 0.10.0 up to, but not including, 1.13.0 | 1.13.0 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.6 | High | CNA (hashicorp.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
The Vault and Vault Enterprise ("Vault") Google Cloud secrets engine did not preserve existing Google Cloud IAM Conditions upon creating or updating rolesets. Fixed in Vault 1.13.0.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
The product specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- When using a critical resource such as a configuration file, check to see if the resource has insecure permissions (such as being modifiable by any regular user), and generate an error or even exit the software if there is a possibility that the resource could have been modified by an unauthorized party.
- Divide the software into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Reduce the attack surface by carefully defining distinct user groups, privileges, and/or roles. Map these against data, functionality, and the related resources. Then set the permissions accordingly. This will allow you to maintain more fine-grained control over your resources.
- During program startup, explicitly set the default permissions or umask to the most restrictive setting possible. Also set the appropriate permissions during program installation. This will prevent you from inheriting insecure permissions from any user who installs or runs the program.
More Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource vulnerabilities (CWE-732)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Vault
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.0 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
Recent Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
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