CVE-2021-36782: Github.com/rancher/rancher Rancher API And Cluster.management.cattle.io Object Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-g7j7-h4q8-8w2f
CVSS 9.9
CWE-312
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-36782 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.9) rancher api and cluster.management.cattle.io object vulnerability (CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) affecting Github.com/rancher/rancher libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves rancher api and cluster.management.cattle.io object vulnerable to plaintext storage and exposure of credentials. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.5.16, 2.6.7.

CVE-2021-36782 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-36782
GHSA Identifier GHSA-g7j7-h4q8-8w2f
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.9
CWE Classification CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information
Affected Product Github.com/rancher/rancher
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.9

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2021-36782

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/rancher/rancher dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

github.com/rancher/rancher fixed: 2.5.16
Upgrade github.com/rancher/rancher to 2.5.16
github.com/rancher/rancher fixed: 2.6.7
Upgrade github.com/rancher/rancher to 2.6.7
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:

inspect dependencies for github.com/rancher/rancher

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2021-36782, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/rancher/rancher:

inspect dependencies for github.com/rancher/rancher

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/rancher/rancher in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.5.16), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information, where the product stores sensitive information in cleartext within a resource that might be accessible to another control sphere. In Github.com/rancher/rancher, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Impact An issue was discovered in Rancher versions up to and including 2.5.15 and 2.6.6 where sensitive fields, like passwords, API keys and Rancher's service account token (used to provision clusters), were stored in plaintext directly on Kubernetes objects like `Clusters`, for example `cluster.management.cattle.io`. Anyone with read access to those objects in the Kubernetes API could retrieve the plaintext version of those sensitive data. The exposed credentials are visible in Rancher to authenticated `Cluster Owners`, `Cluster Members`, `Project Owners`, `Project Members` and `User Base` on the endpoints: - `/v1/management.cattle.io.catalogs` - `/v1/management.cattle.io.cluster` - `/v1/management.cattle.io.clustertemplates` - `/v1/management.cattle.io.notifiers` - `/v1/project.cattle.io.sourcecodeproviderconfig` - `/k8s/clusters/local/apis/management.cattle.io/v3/catalogs` - `/k8s/clusters/local/apis/management.cattle.io/v3/clusters` - `/k8s/clusters/local/apis/management.cattle.io/v3/clustertemplates` - `/k8s/clusters/local/apis/management.cattle.io/v3/notifiers` - `/k8s/clusters/local/apis/project.cattle.io/v3/sourcecodeproviderconfigs` Sensitive fields are now stripped from `Clusters` and other objects and moved to a `Secret` before the object is stored. The `Secret` is retrieved when the credential is needed. For objects that existed before this security fix, a one-time migration happens on startup. **Important:** - The exposure of Rancher's `serviceAccountToken` allows any standard user to escalate its privileges to cluster administrator in Rancher. - For the exposure of credentials not related to Rancher, the final impact severity for confidentiality, integrity and availability is dependent on the permissions that the leaked credentials have on their own services. The fields that have been addressed by this security fix are: - `Notifier.SMTPConfig.Password` - `Notifier.WechatConfig.Secret` - `Notifier.DingtalkConfig.Secret` - `Catalog.Spec.Password` - `SourceCodeProviderConfig.GithubPipelineConfig.ClientSecret` - `SourceCodeProviderConfig.GitlabPipelineConfig.ClientSecret` - `SourceCodeProviderConfig.BitbucketCloudPipelineConfig.ClientSecret` - `SourceCodeProviderConfig.BitbucketServerPipelineConfig.PrivateKey` - `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.BackupConfig.S3BackupConfig.SecretKey` - `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.PrivateRegistries.Password` - `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.Network.WeaveNetworkProvider.Password` - `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.VsphereCloudProvider.Global.Password` - `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.VsphereCloudProvider.VirtualCenter.Password` - `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.OpenstackCloudProvider.Global.Password` - `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.AzureCloudProvider.AADClientSecret` - `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.AzureCloudProvider.AADClientCertPassword` - `Cluster.Status.ServiceAccountToken` - `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.PrivateRegistries.Password` - `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.Network.WeaveNetworkProvider.Password` - `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.VsphereCloudProvider.Global.Password` - `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.VsphereCloudProvider.VirtualCenter.Password` - `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.OpenstackCloudProvider.Global.Password` - `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.AzureCloudProvider.AADClientSecret` - `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.AzureCloudProvider.AADClientCertPassword` ### Patches Patched versions include releases 2.5.16, 2.6.7 and later versions. After upgrading to a patched version, it is important to check for the `SecretsMigrated` condition on `Clusters`, `ClusterTemplates`, and `Catalogs` to confirm when secrets have been fully migrated off of those objects and the objects scoped within them (`Notifiers` and `SourceCodeProviderConfigs`). ### Workarounds Limit access in Rancher to trusted users. There is not a direct mitigation besides upgrading to the patched Rancher versions. **Important:** - It is highly advised to rotate Rancher's `serviceAccountToken`. This rotation is not done by the version upgrade. Please see the helper script below. - The local and downstream clusters should be checked for potential unrecognized services (pods), users and API keys. - It is recommended to review for potential leaked credentials in this scenario, that are not directly related to Rancher, and to change them if deemed necessary. The script available in [rancherlabs/support-tools/rotate-tokens](https://github.com/rancherlabs/support-tools/blob/master/rotate-tokens) repository can be used as a helper to rotate the service account token (used to provision clusters). The script requires a valid Rancher API token, `kubectl` access to the `local` cluster and the `jq` command. ### Credits We would like to recognize and appreciate Florian Struck (from [Continum AG](https://www.continum.net/)) and [Marco Stuurman](https://github.com/fe-ax) (from [Shock Media B.V.](https://www.shockmedia.nl)) for the responsible disclosure of this security issue. ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Reach out to [SUSE Rancher Security team](https://github.com/rancher/rancher/security/policy) for security related inquiries. * Open an issue in [Rancher](https://github.com/rancher/rancher/issues/new/choose) repository. * Verify our [support matrix](https://www.suse.com/suse-rancher/support-matrix/all-supported-versions/) and [product support lifecycle](https://www.suse.com/lifecycle/).

CVE-2021-36782 Affected Github.com/rancher/rancher Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.5.162.6.7
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/rancher/rancher
Go
≥ 2.5.0
< 2.5.16
2.5.16
github.com/rancher/rancher
Go
≥ 2.6.0
< 2.6.7
2.6.7

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-36782?
CVE-2021-36782 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/rancher/rancher involving Rancher API and cluster.management.cattle.io object vulnerable to plaintext storage and exposure of credentials under CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information.
Which Github.com/rancher/rancher versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.5.16, 2.6.7 across affected packages: github.com/rancher/rancher.
What version fixes CVE-2021-36782?
Upgrading to 2.5.16, 2.6.7 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/rancher/rancher affected?
Yes, github.com/rancher/rancher is affected in releases prior to 2.5.16, 2.6.7. Upgrade your dependency to 2.5.16, 2.6.7 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-36782?
CVE-2021-36782 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.9 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-36782?
CVE-2021-36782 is classified under CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information (The product stores sensitive information in cleartext within a resource that might be accessible to another control sphere.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2021-36782?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/rancher/rancher'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-g7j7-h4q8-8w2f",
  "modified" : "2022-09-23T18:11:28Z",
  "published" : "2022-09-23T18:11:28Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-36782" ],
  "summary" : "Rancher API and cluster.management.cattle.io object vulnerable to plaintext storage and exposure of credentials",
  "details" : "### Impact\nAn issue was discovered in Rancher versions up to and including 2.5.15 and 2.6.6 where sensitive fields, like passwords, API keys and Rancher's service account token (used to provision clusters), were stored in plaintext directly on Kubernetes objects like `Clusters`, for example `cluster.management.cattle.io`. Anyone with read access to those objects in the Kubernetes API could retrieve the plaintext version of those sensitive data.\n\nThe exposed credentials are visible in Rancher to authenticated `Cluster Owners`, `Cluster Members`, `Project Owners`, `Project Members` and `User Base` on the endpoints:\n- `/v1/management.cattle.io.catalogs`\n- `/v1/management.cattle.io.cluster`\n- `/v1/management.cattle.io.clustertemplates`\n- `/v1/management.cattle.io.notifiers`\n- `/v1/project.cattle.io.sourcecodeproviderconfig`\n- `/k8s/clusters/local/apis/management.cattle.io/v3/catalogs`\n- `/k8s/clusters/local/apis/management.cattle.io/v3/clusters`\n-  `/k8s/clusters/local/apis/management.cattle.io/v3/clustertemplates`\n- `/k8s/clusters/local/apis/management.cattle.io/v3/notifiers`\n- `/k8s/clusters/local/apis/project.cattle.io/v3/sourcecodeproviderconfigs`\n\nSensitive fields are now stripped from `Clusters` and other objects and moved to a `Secret` before the object is stored. The `Secret` is retrieved when the credential is needed. For objects that existed before this security fix, a one-time migration happens on startup.\n\n**Important:**\n- The exposure of Rancher's `serviceAccountToken` allows any standard user to escalate its privileges to cluster administrator in Rancher.\n- For the exposure of credentials not related to Rancher, the final impact severity for confidentiality, integrity and availability is dependent on the permissions that the leaked credentials have on their own services.\n\nThe fields that have been addressed by this security fix are:\n\n- `Notifier.SMTPConfig.Password`\n- `Notifier.WechatConfig.Secret`\n- `Notifier.DingtalkConfig.Secret`\n- `Catalog.Spec.Password`\n- `SourceCodeProviderConfig.GithubPipelineConfig.ClientSecret`\n- `SourceCodeProviderConfig.GitlabPipelineConfig.ClientSecret`\n- `SourceCodeProviderConfig.BitbucketCloudPipelineConfig.ClientSecret`\n- `SourceCodeProviderConfig.BitbucketServerPipelineConfig.PrivateKey`\n- `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.BackupConfig.S3BackupConfig.SecretKey`\n- `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.PrivateRegistries.Password`\n- `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.Network.WeaveNetworkProvider.Password`\n- `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.VsphereCloudProvider.Global.Password`\n- `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.VsphereCloudProvider.VirtualCenter.Password`\n- `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.OpenstackCloudProvider.Global.Password`\n- `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.AzureCloudProvider.AADClientSecret`\n- `Cluster.Spec.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.AzureCloudProvider.AADClientCertPassword`\n- `Cluster.Status.ServiceAccountToken`\n- `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.PrivateRegistries.Password`\n- `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.Network.WeaveNetworkProvider.Password`\n- `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.VsphereCloudProvider.Global.Password`\n- `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.VsphereCloudProvider.VirtualCenter.Password`\n- `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.OpenstackCloudProvider.Global.Password`\n- `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.AzureCloudProvider.AADClientSecret`\n- `ClusterTemplate.Spec.ClusterConfig.RancherKubernetesEngineConfig.CloudProvider.AzureCloudProvider.AADClientCertPassword`\n\n### Patches\nPatched versions include releases 2.5.16, 2.6.7 and later versions.\n\nAfter upgrading to a patched version, it is important to check for the `SecretsMigrated` condition on `Clusters`, `ClusterTemplates`, and `Catalogs` to confirm when secrets have been fully migrated off of those objects and the objects scoped within them (`Notifiers` and `SourceCodeProviderConfigs`).\n\n### Workarounds\nLimit access in Rancher to trusted users. There is not a direct mitigation besides upgrading to the patched Rancher versions.\n\n**Important:**\n- It is highly advised to rotate Rancher's `serviceAccountToken`. This rotation is not done by the version upgrade. Please see the helper script below.\n- The local and downstream clusters should be checked for potential unrecognized services (pods), users and API keys.\n- It is recommended to review for potential leaked credentials in this scenario, that are not directly related to Rancher, and to change them if deemed necessary.\n\nThe script available in [rancherlabs/support-tools/rotate-tokens](https://github.com/rancherlabs/support-tools/blob/master/rotate-tokens) repository can be used as a helper to rotate the service account token (used to provision clusters). The script requires a valid Rancher API token, `kubectl` access to the `local` cluster and the `jq` command.\n\n### Credits\nWe would like to recognize and appreciate Florian Struck (from [Continum AG](https://www.continum.net/)) and [Marco Stuurman](https://github.com/fe-ax) (from [Shock Media B.V.](https://www.shockmedia.nl)) for the responsible disclosure of this security issue.\n\n### For more information\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n* Reach out to [SUSE Rancher Security team](https://github.com/rancher/rancher/security/policy) for security related inquiries.\n* Open an issue in [Rancher](https://github.com/rancher/rancher/issues/new/choose) repository.\n* Verify our [support matrix](https://www.suse.com/suse-rancher/support-matrix/all-supported-versions/) and [product support lifecycle](https://www.suse.com/lifecycle/).",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/rancher/rancher"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.5.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.5.16"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/rancher/rancher"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.6.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.6.7"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rancher/rancher/security/advisories/GHSA-g7j7-h4q8-8w2f"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-36782"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1193988"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rancher/rancher"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-312" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-09-23T18:11:28Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-09-07T09:15:00Z"
  }
}