CVE-2017-2293 : Security Advisory and Response

Puppet Enterprise versions before 2016.4.5 or 2017.2.1 had a vulnerability that allowed privilege escalation through the MCollective setup. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

Understanding CVE-2017-2293

What is CVE-2017-2293?

Puppet Enterprise versions prior to 2016.4.5 or 2017.2.1 had a default MCollective configuration that permitted the package plugin to manipulate packages on managed agents, potentially leading to privilege escalation.

The Impact of CVE-2017-2293

This vulnerability could allow unauthorized installation or removal of packages on all managed agents, posing a significant risk of privilege escalation within the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-2293

Vulnerability Description

Versions of Puppet Enterprise before 2016.4.5 or 2017.2.1 had a preconfigured MCollective setup that enabled the package plugin to perform package installations or removals on all managed agents, creating a privilege escalation risk.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Puppet Enterprise
Vendor: Puppet
Affected Versions: prior to 2016.4.5, 2016.5.x, 2017.1.x
Resolved Versions: 2016.4.5, 2017.2.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allowed attackers to exploit the MCollective configuration to execute unauthorized package operations on managed agents, potentially gaining elevated privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Puppet Enterprise to version 2016.4.5 or 2017.2.1 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Review and adjust MCollective configurations to restrict package plugin actions as needed.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update access controls and configurations to prevent privilege escalation risks.
Implement least privilege principles to limit the capabilities of MCollective and other management tools.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Puppet to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.