CVE-2018-15751 in SaltStack Salt
Summary
by MITRE
SaltStack Salt before 2017.7.8 and 2018.3.x before 2018.3.3 allow remote attackers to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary commands via salt-api(netapi).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15751 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within SaltStack Salt configuration management software that affected versions prior to 2017.7.8 and 2018.3.3. This vulnerability specifically targets the salt-api component which serves as the network application programming interface for SaltStack's distributed system management platform. The flaw enables remote attackers to circumvent the authentication mechanisms that should normally protect access to the salt-api endpoints, thereby granting unauthorized execution of commands on managed systems. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication tokens and session management within the API layer, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain administrative privileges without proper credentials.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of authentication tokens and session identifiers within the salt-api framework. Attackers can craft specially crafted requests that bypass the standard authentication checks, allowing them to execute arbitrary commands on target systems that are managed by SaltStack. This authentication bypass vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be leveraged to perform actions such as executing arbitrary shell commands, modifying system configurations, accessing sensitive data, or deploying malicious payloads across the managed infrastructure. The flaw specifically affects the netapi module which handles network communications and API requests, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on SaltStack for automated system management and orchestration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete compromise of the managed infrastructure. Organizations using affected SaltStack versions face significant risks including potential data breaches, system takeover, and unauthorized modification of critical system configurations. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring any prior authentication credentials, making it particularly attractive to attackers who seek to compromise large-scale deployments. This flaw directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of system management operations, as attackers can manipulate the very tools used for maintaining system security and compliance. The vulnerability also affects the availability of systems, as attackers could potentially disrupt normal operations through command execution or resource consumption.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of SaltStack Salt that address the authentication bypass flaw. The recommended remediation involves applying the official security patches released by SaltStack for versions 2017.7.8 and 2018.3.3, which include proper authentication token validation and session management improvements. Additional protective measures should include network segmentation of salt-api endpoints, implementation of strong access controls, and monitoring for unusual API activity patterns. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish robust logging practices to track API access and command execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all SaltStack deployments are updated to secure versions that properly validate authentication tokens and prevent unauthorized command execution.