#VU58293 Improper Authentication in Salt - CVE-2021-22004

Vulnerability identifier: #VU58293

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 5.7 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2021-22004

CWE-ID: CWE-287

Exploitation vector: Local

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Salt
Web applications / Remote management & hosting panels

Vendor: SaltStack

Description

The vulnerability allows a local user to bypass implemented security restrictions.

The vulnerability exists due to the salt minion installer will accept and use a minion config file at C:\salt\conf if that file is in place before the installer is run. A local user with ability to create files in the said directory can subvert the proper behavior of the given minion software.

Mitigation
Install updates from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Salt: 3001 - 3001.7, 3002 - 3002.6, 3003 - 3003.2

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External links
https://saltproject.io/security_announcements/salt-security-advisory-2021-sep-02/

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.