CVE-2024-55949 in MinIO
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2024
MinIO is a high-performance, S3 compatible object store, open sourced under GNU AGPLv3 license. Minio is subject to a privilege escalation in IAM import API, all users are impacted since MinIO commit `580d9db85e04f1b63cc2909af50f0ed08afa965f`. This issue has been addressed in commit `f246c9053f9603e610d98439799bdd2a6b293427` which is included in RELEASE.2024-12-13T22-19-12Z. There are no workarounds possible, all users are advised to upgrade immediately.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-55949 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the MinIO object storage system that affects all users of the S3-compatible platform. This security issue specifically targets the Identity and Access Management import API functionality, which is fundamental to managing user permissions and access controls within the MinIO environment. The vulnerability was introduced in MinIO commit 580d9db85e04f1b63cc2909af50f0ed08afa965f and has remained unpatched until the release of version containing commit f246c9053f9603e610d98439799bdd2a6b293427. The affected system operates under the GNU AGPLv3 license and serves as a high-performance object storage solution that many organizations rely upon for critical data management operations.
The technical nature of this privilege escalation vulnerability allows unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges within the MinIO IAM system through the import API functionality. This flaw enables attackers to manipulate the identity and access management controls of the object storage platform, potentially allowing them to create administrative accounts, modify existing user permissions, or gain access to sensitive data stored within the system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control checks within the IAM import API, which fails to properly verify the privileges of users attempting to perform administrative operations. This weakness creates a path for malicious actors to bypass normal authentication and authorization mechanisms, effectively undermining the security posture of the entire MinIO deployment.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-55949 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the MinIO platform's security model. Organizations utilizing MinIO for critical data storage and management operations face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized modifications to storage configurations, and potential lateral movement within their infrastructure. The vulnerability affects all users regardless of their current security posture or implementation practices, making it particularly concerning for enterprises that depend on MinIO for their object storage needs. Given that the issue exists in the core IAM functionality, any organization that relies on MinIO's user management capabilities is potentially exposed to unauthorized privilege escalation attacks that could result in complete system compromise.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a direct violation of the principle of least privilege, which is a fundamental security control outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards. The flaw aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privilege management, and represents a clear violation of the security principle that users should only have access to resources necessary for their specific roles. Additionally, this vulnerability can be leveraged by attackers following techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1078 privilege escalation tactics, where adversaries establish persistence and expand their access within compromised systems. The lack of viable workarounds for this vulnerability means that organizations cannot implement temporary mitigations while planning upgrades, creating an urgent need for immediate remediation. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to the patched release version RELEASE.2024-12-13T22-19-12Z or later to address this critical security weakness and restore proper access controls within their MinIO deployments.