CVE-2023-1297 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE details a vulnerability in Consul and Consul Enterprise, where the cluster peering implementation could lead to a denial of service attack.

Understanding CVE-2023-1297

This vulnerability in Consul and Consul Enterprise arises from a flaw in the cluster peering implementation that allows a peer cluster with a service of the same name as a local service to corrupt Consul state, ultimately causing a denial of service.

What is CVE-2023-1297?

The CVE-2023-1297 vulnerability in Consul and Consul Enterprise results from an issue in the cluster peering functionality that enables a peer cluster to disrupt Consul's state, leading to a denial of service scenario. This vulnerability has been addressed in Consul versions 1.14.5 and 1.15.3.

The Impact of CVE-2023-1297

The impact of CVE-2023-1297 is significant as it could be exploited by an attacker with access to an ACL token with specific permissions in a cluster utilizing cluster peering. The vulnerability could potentially disrupt or deny services within the affected environment.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-1297

This section delves into the specific technical aspects of the CVE, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Consul and Consul Enterprise allows a malicious actor to manipulate the cluster peering feature to corrupt Consul state, resulting in a denial of service condition within the affected environment.

Affected Systems and Versions

Both Consul and Consul Enterprise versions 1.14.0 to 1.14.5 and 1.15.0 to 1.15.3 are impacted by this vulnerability. The affected platforms include 64 bit, 32 bit, x86, ARM, MacOS, Windows, and Linux.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability requires an attacker to have access to an ACL token with specific permissions, including service:write capabilities, within a cluster utilizing Consul's cluster peering functionality.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2023-1297, it is crucial for organizations utilizing Consul or Consul Enterprise to take immediate steps to mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability. Implementing long-term security practices and ensuring timely patching and updates are essential to enhancing the overall security posture.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediately update affected instances of Consul and Consul Enterprise to versions 1.14.5 or 1.15.3 to mitigate the vulnerability. Restrict access to ACL tokens with service:write permissions to authorized personnel only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Adopt a robust network segmentation strategy, regularly review and update access controls, and conduct security assessments to identify and address any vulnerabilities in the environment proactively.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from HashiCorp and promptly apply patches and updates to the Consul and Consul Enterprise instances to ensure the infrastructure remains secure and protected against potential threats.