CVE-2021-41617 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

OpenSSH vulnerability allowing privilege escalation under specific configurations.

Understanding CVE-2021-41617

OpenSSH 6.2 through 8.x before 8.8 vulnerability enabling privilege escalation due to misconfiguration.

What is CVE-2021-41617?

OpenSSH versions 6.2 through 8.x before 8.8, when non-default configurations are used, allow privilege escalation.
Supplemental groups are not correctly initialized, leading to the issue.
AuthorizedKeysCommand and AuthorizedPrincipalsCommand helper programs may run with elevated privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2021-41617

Allows malicious users to exploit privilege escalation vulnerabilities in OpenSSH.
Attackers can potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-41617

OpenSSH vulnerability explanation and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

Privilege escalation vulnerability in OpenSSH 6.2 through 8.x before 8.8 with certain configurations.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: n/a
Affected versions: Not specified

Exploitation Mechanism

Misconfiguration in non-default setups leading to uninitialized supplemental groups.
AuthorizedKeysCommand and AuthorizedPrincipalsCommand execution with sshd process group privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Ways to address and prevent CVE-2021-41617.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update OpenSSH to version 8.8 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement proper privilege separation and configuration in OpenSSH.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and monitor OpenSSH configurations for security weaknesses.
Educate system administrators on secure OpenSSH setup practices.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches released by OpenSSH.