CVE-2021-23019 in Controller
Summary
by MITRE • 06/01/2021
The NGINX Controller 2.0.0 thru 2.9.0 and 3.x before 3.15.0 Administrator password may be exposed in the systemd.txt file that is included in the NGINX support package.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-23019 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the NGINX Controller administrative framework. This issue affects versions 2.0.0 through 2.9.0 and all 3.x versions prior to 3.15.0, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on NGINX's infrastructure management solutions. The flaw manifests through the improper handling of sensitive administrative credentials within the support package distribution mechanism, specifically within the systemd.txt file that is packaged alongside the controller software.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the inclusion of administrator password credentials within the systemd.txt support file without adequate obfuscation or access controls. This configuration creates an attack surface where unauthorized individuals with access to the support package can extract administrative credentials simply by examining the packaged text file. The flaw operates at the system configuration level, where sensitive data is stored in plaintext within a support documentation file that should typically be restricted in access and content. This represents a direct violation of secure configuration practices and data protection principles that should be enforced in enterprise security frameworks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of NGINX Controller deployments. Attackers who gain access to the support package can immediately escalate their privileges and assume administrative control over the entire NGINX infrastructure management system. This provides attackers with complete access to monitoring data, configuration management capabilities, and potentially access to underlying network infrastructure that the controller manages. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and represents a classic case of insecure data handling in system support packages. Organizations using affected versions face potential compromise of their entire NGINX controller ecosystem, including exposure to privilege escalation attacks and unauthorized access to critical infrastructure monitoring systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through version updates to NGINX Controller 3.15.0 or later, which addresses the credential exposure issue through improved support package handling. Organizations should also implement immediate access controls on support package distributions to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all NGINX controller installations to identify and remediate any instances of the vulnerable versions. Additionally, organizations should review their overall support package distribution processes and implement secure configuration management practices that align with industry standards such as those defined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure configuration management and proper access controls for system support files, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics. Regular security assessments of system support packages and implementation of automated vulnerability scanning tools should be enforced to prevent similar issues in the future, particularly focusing on information disclosure vulnerabilities that can lead to unauthorized administrative access.