CVE-2018-21034 in Argo
Summary
by MITRE
In Argo versions prior to v1.5.0-rc1, it was possible for authenticated Argo users to submit API calls to retrieve secrets and other manifests which were stored within git.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-21034 represents a critical access control flaw within the Argo project management platform that affected versions prior to v1.5.0-rc1. This issue stems from insufficient authorization checks within the application's api layer, allowing authenticated users to exploit a privilege escalation vector that bypasses normal security boundaries. The flaw specifically targets the platform's handling of secret retrieval mechanisms and manifest access controls, creating a scenario where users with legitimate credentials can access sensitive data that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's insufficient validation of user permissions when processing api requests for secret and manifest retrieval. Attackers with valid authentication credentials can craft specific api calls that circumvent the normal access control mechanisms, effectively allowing them to retrieve configuration files, credentials, and other sensitive information stored within the git repository backend. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in the application's authorization model to properly enforce access controls based on user roles and permissions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the fact that authenticated users can manipulate api endpoints to access resources beyond their intended scope.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized data access, as it creates potential for credential theft, configuration disclosure, and subsequent lateral movement within affected environments. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive information including database credentials, api keys, and other confidential data stored in git repositories. This access could enable further compromise of the system through privilege escalation attacks or provide attackers with the information needed to conduct more sophisticated attacks against the underlying infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Argo for continuous integration and deployment workflows, where the exposure of secrets could lead to complete system compromise. This flaw aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and maps to attack techniques in the ATT&CK framework related to privilege escalation and credential access.
Organizations should immediately implement the patch available in Argo version v1.5.0-rc1 or later to remediate this vulnerability. The fix addresses the core authorization flaw by implementing proper access control checks and ensuring that api requests are validated against appropriate user permissions before retrieving sensitive data. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to the Argo application, enforcing multi-factor authentication for privileged users, and conducting regular security audits of api endpoints to identify similar authorization flaws. Organizations should also review their git repository access controls and ensure that sensitive information is properly secured and not exposed through the application's api interface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and the potential for authenticated users to cause significant damage when authorization mechanisms are insufficiently enforced.