CVE-2024-22232 in Salt Project
Summary
by MITRE • 06/27/2024
A specially crafted url can be created which leads to a directory traversal in the salt file server. A malicious user can read an arbitrary file from a Salt master’s filesystem.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-22232 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Salt file server component that enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the Salt master system. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of file paths when processing specially crafted URLs, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the file server's behavior through crafted requests. The flaw exists in the way Salt handles file path resolution, specifically when processing requests for files through the salt file server module.
This directory traversal vulnerability operates by exploiting improper validation of user-supplied input that flows into file system operations without adequate sanitization or path normalization. When a malicious user crafts a URL containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, the Salt file server fails to properly validate these sequences, allowing the attacker to navigate outside the intended file serving boundaries and access files that should remain restricted. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes these malformed paths without implementing proper access controls or path validation mechanisms that would normally prevent such unauthorized access patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations relying on Salt for configuration management and automation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially read sensitive files from the Salt master's filesystem, including configuration files, credentials, private keys, and other confidential data that may be stored within the system's file hierarchy. This access could lead to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and further compromise of the broader infrastructure that relies on Salt for its operations. The vulnerability essentially provides an attacker with a direct path to access the Salt master's file system, potentially exposing the entire configuration management infrastructure to unauthorized access.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 - Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory and maps to ATT&CK technique T1565.001 - Data Manipulation. The flaw represents a classic path traversal attack vector that has been prevalent in numerous systems throughout the industry. Organizations using Salt should immediately assess their exposure to this vulnerability and implement mitigations including input validation, path normalization, and access control restrictions. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to patched versions of Salt that properly sanitize file paths and implement strict validation of all input parameters before processing them within the file server context. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict direct access to Salt master services from untrusted networks, while also considering the implementation of additional logging and monitoring to detect suspicious file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.