CVE-2008-2369 in Network Satellite Server
Summary
by MITRE
manzier.pxt in Red Hat Network Satellite Server before 5.1.1 has a hard-coded authentication key, which allows remote attackers to connect to the server and obtain sensitive information about user accounts and entitlements.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2369 represents a critical security flaw in Red Hat Network Satellite Server versions prior to 5.1.1 where a hard-coded authentication key exists within the manzier.pxt component. This component serves as a critical interface for managing system configurations and user entitlements within the satellite server environment. The presence of a hard-coded key fundamentally undermines the security architecture by providing a persistent backdoor mechanism that remains unchanged across system deployments and updates. Such a design flaw violates fundamental security principles that require unique, randomly generated credentials for each system instance to prevent unauthorized access through predictable authentication mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the inclusion of a static authentication token within the software code that cannot be modified or rotated by administrators. This hard-coded key allows remote attackers to authenticate against the satellite server without requiring legitimate user credentials or knowledge of existing user accounts. The manzier.pxt component specifically handles sensitive information processing including user account details, subscription entitlements, and system configuration data that would normally be protected through proper authentication mechanisms. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to comprehensive user account information, entitlement details, and potentially manipulate system configurations to escalate their privileges or extract additional sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential privilege escalation and system compromise scenarios. Remote attackers can leverage the hard-coded key to obtain detailed user account information including authentication credentials, subscription details, and entitlement mappings that provide insights into system usage patterns and resource allocation. This information can be used for further attacks including credential stuffing, privilege escalation, or targeted social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability affects the core management functionality of the satellite server, potentially allowing attackers to modify system configurations, disable security features, or gain persistent access to the managed infrastructure. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where satellite servers manage large numbers of systems and user accounts, as a single compromised key can provide access to extensive organizational data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of security patches provided by Red Hat to address the hard-coded authentication key issue. Organizations should ensure all satellite server instances are updated to version 5.1.1 or later where the hard-coded key has been removed or properly randomized. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of their satellite server configurations to identify any remaining instances of hard-coded credentials and implement proper credential rotation procedures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software, and represents a classic example of insecure credential management practices. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and credential access techniques where attackers can leverage hardcoded credentials to obtain unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations should implement network segmentation controls to limit access to satellite server components and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, implementing proper key management practices including regular credential rotation, secure storage mechanisms, and access control policies will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future deployments.