CVE-2013-2716 in Puppet
Summary
by MITRE
Puppet Labs Puppet Enterprise before 2.8.0 does not use a "randomized secret" in the CAS client config file (cas_client_config.yml) when upgrading from older 1.2.x or 2.0.x versions, which allows remote attackers to obtain console access via a crafted cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2716 affects Puppet Labs Puppet Enterprise versions prior to 2.8.0, specifically impacting the certificate-based authentication system during upgrade processes from older versions. This flaw resides in the cas_client_config.yml configuration file where the system fails to implement proper randomization of secrets during upgrade scenarios, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the Puppet Enterprise console.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of cryptographic secrets during version upgrades within the Puppet Enterprise authentication framework. When upgrading from 1.2.x or 2.0.x versions to 2.8.0, the system retains predictable or static secret values in the cas_client_config.yml file instead of generating fresh randomized secrets. This predictable secret generation creates a scenario where attackers can craft malicious cookies that contain valid authentication tokens, effectively bypassing the authentication mechanism and gaining unauthorized console access to the Puppet management infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands within the Puppet Enterprise environment without requiring legitimate credentials or authentication. The attack vector specifically targets the cookie-based authentication system, making it particularly dangerous because it can be exploited from any network location without requiring physical access or prior knowledge of system credentials. This vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor access method that could enable attackers to manipulate configuration management policies, deploy malicious code across managed nodes, or escalate privileges within the Puppet infrastructure.
The weakness manifests as a failure to implement proper cryptographic randomization during system upgrades, which aligns with CWE-330, indicating insufficient randomness in security tokens. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically targeting credential access through social engineering or authentication bypass methods. The lack of proper secret randomization creates predictable authentication tokens that attackers can reverse engineer or guess, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the authentication system. Organizations using affected Puppet Enterprise versions face a critical risk of unauthorized access to their configuration management infrastructure, potentially leading to widespread compromise of managed systems and deployment of malicious configurations across their network.
The recommended mitigation involves upgrading to Puppet Enterprise version 2.8.0 or later where the system properly implements randomized secrets during upgrade processes. Administrators should also conduct thorough security assessments of their existing configurations to identify any potential exposure, implement network segmentation to limit access to Puppet console interfaces, and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their upgrade procedures to ensure proper secret regeneration during version transitions and consider implementing additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication to provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities.