CVE-2021-41034 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Eclipse Che version 6 is affected by a vulnerability that allows MITM attacks during the build process, potentially leading to the replacement of original binaries with malicious ones.

Understanding CVE-2021-41034

What is CVE-2021-41034?

The build process of specific language stacks in Eclipse Che version 6 pulls binaries from an unsecured HTTP endpoint, making them susceptible to MITM attacks. This vulnerability affects the Java 8 (alpine and centos), Android, and PHP stacks, posing a threat during the build phase but not during runtime.

The Impact of CVE-2021-41034

This vulnerability can enable attackers to substitute legitimate binaries with arbitrary ones, compromising the integrity and security of the built language stacks.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-41034

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability results from pulling binaries from an insecure HTTP endpoint during the build process, making language stacks vulnerable to MITM attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Eclipse Che
Vendor: The Eclipse Foundation
Versions Affected: 6.0 and versions less than 7.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by intercepting communication during the build process, allowing them to replace genuine binaries with malicious ones.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Avoid using Eclipse Che version 6 for sensitive operations until a patch is available.
Ensure that the build environment is secure, and dependencies are fetched from trusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Eclipse Che to the latest version to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement secure coding practices to minimize the risk of MITM attacks during the build process.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by The Eclipse Foundation promptly to address this vulnerability and enhance the security of Eclipse Che.