CVE-2017-8109 in SaltStack
Summary
by MITRE
The salt-ssh minion code in SaltStack Salt before 2016.11.4 copied over configuration from the Salt Master without adjusting permissions, which might leak credentials to local attackers on configured minions (clients).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8109 represents a critical security flaw in SaltStack Salt's salt-ssh implementation that persisted across multiple versions prior to 2016.11.4. This issue specifically affects the minion configuration handling process where the salt-ssh functionality fails to properly manage file permissions when transferring configuration files from the Salt Master to the minions. The flaw stems from inadequate permission control mechanisms that allow configuration files containing sensitive credentials to be stored with overly permissive access controls on the minion systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the salt-ssh minion code execution path where configuration data is copied from the master server to client machines. During this transfer process, the system does not appropriately modify file permissions on the destination files, leaving them accessible to local users who may not have legitimate access rights. This misconfiguration creates an attack surface where unauthorized local users can potentially read sensitive information contained within these configuration files, including authentication credentials, API keys, and other privileged access tokens that should remain restricted to authorized administrative processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8109 extends beyond simple credential exposure as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of SaltStack deployments. Local attackers who gain access to any user account on a compromised minion can exploit this vulnerability to extract authentication credentials that may provide them with elevated privileges within the Salt infrastructure. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on SaltStack for configuration management, as compromised minions can become entry points for broader network infiltration. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users share minion systems or where privilege escalation opportunities exist within the local environment.
This vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity frameworks and threat modeling approaches, including CWE-732 which addresses inadequate permissions for critical resources, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK perspective, this issue enables privilege escalation and credential access techniques that attackers can leverage to maintain persistence and expand their access within compromised environments. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor secure coding practices related to file handling and access control management that should be addressed through proper input validation and privilege separation mechanisms.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to SaltStack Salt version 2016.11.4 or later where this vulnerability has been resolved. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough audits of existing minion configurations to ensure that no sensitive files retain overly permissive access controls. Network segmentation strategies should be implemented to limit local user access to minion systems, and regular security assessments should verify that file permissions are properly enforced during configuration file transfers. The remediation process should include verification that configuration files are properly secured with restrictive permissions immediately following any salt-ssh operations to prevent similar issues in the future.