CVE-2020-29589 in kapacitor Docker Image
Summary
by MITRE • 12/11/2020
Versions of the Official kapacitor Docker images through 1.5.0-alpine contain a blank password for the root user. Systems deployed using affected versions of the kapacitor container may allow a remote attacker to achieve root access with a blank password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-29589 affects the Official kapacitor Docker images version 1.5.0-alpine and earlier, presenting a critical security weakness that directly compromises system integrity and access controls. This issue stems from the improper configuration of authentication credentials within the containerized environment, specifically leaving the root user account with a blank password. The kapacitor monitoring and alerting application is designed to process time-series data and execute automated actions based on defined rules, making it a potentially valuable target for attackers seeking persistent access to monitoring infrastructure. When deployed using affected container versions, this flaw creates an immediate and severe attack vector that allows remote adversaries to gain root privileges without requiring any authentication credentials.
The technical flaw manifests as a default configuration error where the root user account lacks proper password protection, effectively creating an authentication bypass vulnerability. This weakness is classified under CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software, and represents a fundamental failure in secure configuration management. The blank password credential creates an immediate privilege escalation opportunity that bypasses all normal authentication mechanisms, allowing attackers to achieve full system control. This vulnerability operates at the credential management layer of the security stack and represents a critical failure in the principle of least privilege, where the root account should never be accessible without proper authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over the monitoring infrastructure and potentially sensitive data processing capabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate monitoring rules, disable alerting systems, modify time-series data, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point to attack other systems within the network. The remote accessibility of this flaw means that attackers do not require physical access or prior network credentials to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in cloud environments where containers may be exposed to external networks. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts with default passwords, and T1566 which involves the exploitation of remote services.
Organizations using affected kapacitor Docker images should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability, including updating to patched versions of the software, implementing proper credential management, and reviewing all container configurations for similar issues. The recommended approach involves deploying the latest stable version of kapacitor that includes proper password enforcement for all user accounts, particularly the root account. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to limit external exposure of monitoring systems, and container orchestration platforms should enforce strict access controls and credential management policies. Regular security audits of container images should include checks for hardcoded credentials, default passwords, and insecure configurations, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive security testing throughout the software lifecycle. Organizations should also consider implementing automated scanning tools that can detect such configuration issues in container images before deployment to production environments.