CVE-2020-28169 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Fluentd's td-agent-builder plugin before 2020-12-18 allows attackers to gain privileges due to insecure permissions.

Understanding CVE-2020-28169

The vulnerability in the td-agent-builder plugin for Fluentd can lead to privilege escalation attacks.

What is CVE-2020-28169?

The td-agent-builder plugin for Fluentd, before 2020-12-18, permits attackers to elevate privileges by exploiting insecure permissions.

The Impact of CVE-2020-28169

The vulnerability allows attackers to execute files in the bin directory with elevated privileges, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-28169

The technical aspects of the CVE-2020-28169 vulnerability are outlined below:

Vulnerability Description

The bin directory in the td-agent-builder plugin is writable by a user account, enabling the execution of files as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM, leading to privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: All versions before 2020-12-18

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the writable bin directory to execute files with elevated privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-28169 with the following measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the td-agent-builder plugin to the latest version that includes a fix for the vulnerability.
Restrict access permissions to the bin directory to prevent unauthorized modifications.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit file permissions and access controls on critical directories.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user access rights to only what is necessary.
Conduct security training for users to raise awareness about the risks of insecure file permissions.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Fluentd for the td-agent-builder plugin.