Certificate Validation Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-2048

What is CVE-2024-2048?

CVE-2024-2048 is a certification validation bypass vulnerability found in Hashicorp's Vault and Vault Enterprise software, which is used for managing secrets and protecting sensitive data. This vulnerability occurs due to improper validation of client certificates when a non-CA certificate is configured as a trusted certificate. If exploited, this could allow an attacker to present a crafted malicious certificate to bypass authentication mechanisms, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information and resources within an organization.

Technical Details

The vulnerability stems from the TLS certificate authentication method in Hashicorp Vault. Specifically, it fails to properly validate client certificates that are not issued by a trusted Certificate Authority when configured with a non-CA certificate. This oversight can be manipulated by an attacker who crafts a valid-looking certificate that the system incorrectly accepts, potentially granting access without proper credentials.

The flaw has been addressed in software updates, specifically Vault versions 1.15.5 and 1.14.10, which are designed to ensure correct validation processes for client certificates and bolster overall security.

Impact of the Vulnerability

1. Unauthorized Access: An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the Vault system. This would enable them to retrieve sensitive secret data, which could be misused for malicious purposes.

2. Data Breach Risk: By bypassing authentication, attackers can compromise valuable and confidential data stored within the Vault, leading to data breaches that could have severe consequences for organizations, including regulatory penalties and reputational damage.

3. Increased Attack Surface: The presence of this vulnerability increases the risk profile of organizations utilizing the affected versions of Vault. If left unpatched, it could lead to further exploitation attempts and act as a stepping stone for additional attacks, jeopardizing the entire security posture of the organization.

News Articles

securityonline.info

CVE-2024-2048

CVE-2024-2048: HashiCorp's Vault Vulnerability Puts Secrets at Risk

CVE-2024-2048 that could allow attackers to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access to your organization's most valuable secrets

10 months ago

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