CVE-2021-42562 in CALDERA
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2022
An issue was discovered in CALDERA 2.8.1. It does not properly segregate user privileges, resulting in non-admin users having access to read and modify configuration or other components that should only be accessible by admin users.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-42562 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the CALDERA security platform version 2.8.1. This issue stems from inadequate access control mechanisms that fail to properly enforce user role-based restrictions. CALDERA, a widely used adversary emulation platform designed for red team operations and security testing, implements a multi-user environment where distinct permission levels are expected to govern access to system components. The flaw manifests when non-administrative users can bypass intended authorization controls to access sensitive administrative functions including configuration files, system settings, and other components that should remain restricted to privileged users only.
This privilege segregation failure constitutes a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and represents a classic access control vulnerability classified under CWE-284. The technical implementation appears to lack proper authentication checks and authorization validation at critical API endpoints and user interface components within the CALDERA framework. When users authenticate to the system, the application fails to adequately verify their administrative status before granting access to sensitive operations or data repositories. This allows malicious actors or compromised user accounts to escalate their privileges without proper authorization, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables non-admin users to modify critical system configurations that could fundamentally alter the platform's behavior and security posture. Attackers could manipulate core system settings, modify agent configurations, access sensitive operational data, or potentially disrupt ongoing security testing operations. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on CALDERA for adversary emulation and threat hunting activities, as it undermines the integrity of their security testing environments. The implications are especially severe in multi-user environments where different teams or individuals require distinct access levels for operational security and compliance purposes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-42562 should prioritize immediate patching of the CALDERA platform to version 3.0.0 or later, which contains the necessary access control fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control reviews to ensure proper user role assignments and regularly audit system permissions. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative access attempts can help detect unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1548.001 for Abuse of Cloud Admin APIs, as it enables unauthorized access to administrative functions through compromised or misconfigured user accounts. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, session management controls, and regular security assessments can help prevent similar access control weaknesses in other security tools and platforms.