CVE-2020-5262 in EasyBuild
Summary
by MITRE
In EasyBuild before version 4.1.2, the GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT) used by EasyBuild for the GitHub integration features (like `--new-pr`, `--fro,-pr`, etc.) is shown in plain text in EasyBuild debug log files. This issue is fixed in EasyBuild v4.1.2, and in the `master`+ `develop` branches of the `easybuild-framework` repository.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2020-5262 represents a critical security flaw in the EasyBuild software build automation framework that affected versions prior to 4.1.2. This issue specifically impacts the GitHub integration capabilities of EasyBuild where users can leverage personal access tokens for various operations including creating new pull requests and fetching pull requests. The flaw manifests in the logging mechanism where sensitive authentication credentials are written to debug log files in plaintext format rather than being properly masked or sanitized during the logging process.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate credential handling within the EasyBuild framework's logging infrastructure. When users execute commands such as --new-pr or --fetch-pr that require GitHub Personal Access Tokens for authentication, the system fails to implement proper credential sanitization before writing log entries. This results in the PAT being stored in plain text within debug log files, creating a significant exposure vector for unauthorized access. The vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-546 which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials and CWE-200 which covers exposure of sensitive information. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and output sanitization practices that violate fundamental security principles for credential management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure as it creates persistent attack vectors that can be exploited by malicious actors with access to the system's log files. An attacker who gains access to these debug logs could immediately obtain valid GitHub Personal Access Tokens that grant them full access to repositories and organizations that the token has permissions for. This could enable unauthorized code modifications, repository access, and potentially lead to supply chain attacks if the compromised tokens are used for legitimate development activities. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that maintain extensive debug logging for troubleshooting purposes, as these logs often contain sensitive authentication information that should never be exposed in plain text format.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate upgrade to EasyBuild version 4.1.2 or later where the issue has been properly addressed through enhanced credential sanitization in the logging process. System administrators should also implement proper log access controls and monitoring to prevent unauthorized access to debug files containing sensitive information. Organizations should establish logging policies that ensure credentials are never written to logs in any format, implementing proper credential masking techniques and regular log audits to identify potential exposures. The fix implemented in EasyBuild v4.1.2 demonstrates proper security practices by ensuring that all authentication tokens and sensitive data are properly sanitized before being included in any logging output, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1562.006 which focuses on credential dumping and T1078 which covers valid accounts. Additionally, this vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001 for secure logging and credential management.