CVE-2018-9057 in Terraform Amazon Web Services
Summary
by MITRE
aws/resource_aws_iam_user_login_profile.go in the HashiCorp Terraform Amazon Web Services (AWS) provider through v1.12.0 has an inappropriate PRNG algorithm and seeding, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access by leveraging an IAM account that was provisioned with a weak password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9057 affects the HashiCorp Terraform AWS provider version 1.12.0 and earlier, specifically within the aws/resource_aws_iam_user_login_profile.go component. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that undermines the integrity of password generation mechanisms used during IAM user provisioning. The vulnerability stems from the implementation of an inappropriate pseudo-random number generator algorithm and insufficient seeding practices that compromise the randomness and unpredictability of generated passwords.
The technical flaw manifests in the use of a weak random number generation approach that fails to provide adequate entropy for password creation. This weakness allows attackers to potentially predict or reproduce the generated passwords, particularly when dealing with IAM accounts that are provisioned through Terraform automation. The inadequate seeding of the PRNG means that the generated passwords may exhibit patterns or repetitions that make them susceptible to brute force attacks or cryptographic analysis. This vulnerability directly impacts the security posture of cloud environments where Terraform is used for infrastructure automation and IAM user management.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Terraform for AWS infrastructure provisioning. Attackers who can observe or predict IAM user passwords gain unauthorized access to cloud resources, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, and unauthorized resource consumption. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in automated environments where multiple IAM users are provisioned through Terraform scripts, as the weak password generation affects the entire provisioning workflow. The ease of exploitation means that even without direct access to the system, attackers can leverage knowledge of the weak PRNG to compromise IAM accounts.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-330, which addresses the use of insufficent entropy in random number generation, and represents a failure to implement proper cryptographic practices in security-critical components. Organizations using Terraform for AWS provisioning should immediately update to versions that address this vulnerability, as the weakness affects the fundamental security of automated IAM user creation processes. The recommended mitigation includes upgrading to Terraform AWS provider versions that implement proper random number generation techniques and ensure adequate seeding of cryptographic algorithms. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough audits of their existing IAM user accounts to identify and reset any passwords that may have been generated using the vulnerable implementation. Security teams should also consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts that might exploit this vulnerability.