CVE-2020-12797: Github.com/hashicorp/consul Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-hwqm-x785-qh8p
Share
CVSS 5.3
CWE-732
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-12797 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource) affecting Github.com/hashicorp/consul libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves incorrect permission assignment for critical resource in hashicorp consul. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.7.4, 1.6.6.

CVE-2020-12797 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-12797
GHSA Identifier GHSA-hwqm-x785-qh8p
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
Affected Product Github.com/hashicorp/consul
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2020-12797

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/hashicorp/consul 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/hashicorp/consul fixed: 1.7.4 
Upgrade github.com/hashicorp/consul to 1.7.4
github.com/hashicorp/consul fixed: 1.6.6 
Upgrade github.com/hashicorp/consul to 1.6.6
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/hashicorp/consul

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2020-12797, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/hashicorp/consul:

inspect dependencies for github.com/hashicorp/consul

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/hashicorp/consul in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.7.4), 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-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, where the product specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors. In Github.com/hashicorp/consul, 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

HashiCorp Consul and Consul Enterprise failed to enforce changes to legacy ACL token rules due to non-propagation to secondary data centers. Introduced in 1.4.0, fixed in 1.6.6 and 1.7.4. ### Specific Go Packages Affected github.com/hashicorp/consul/agent/structs

CVE-2020-12797 Affected Github.com/hashicorp/consul Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.7.41.6.6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/hashicorp/consul
golang/github.com/hashicorp/consul
Go
≥ 1.7.0
< 1.7.4
1.7.4
github.com/hashicorp/consul
golang/github.com/hashicorp/consul
Go
≥ 1.6.0
< 1.6.6
1.6.6

References

NVD — CVE-2020-12797 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-12797
Github.com/hashicorp/consul Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/hashicorp/consul/issues/5606
Github.com/hashicorp/consul Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/hashicorp/consul/pull/8047
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/hashicorp/consul/commit/98eea08d3ba1b220a14cf6eedf3b6b07ae2795d7
Github.com/hashicorp/consul Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/hashicorp/consul/blob/v1.6.6/CHANGELOG.md
Github.com/hashicorp/consul Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/hashicorp/consul/blob/v1.7.4/CHANGELOG.md

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-12797?
CVE-2020-12797 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/hashicorp/consul involving Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource in Hashicorp Consul under CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource.
Which Github.com/hashicorp/consul versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.7.4, 1.6.6 across affected packages: github.com/hashicorp/consul.
What version fixes CVE-2020-12797?
Upgrading to 1.7.4, 1.6.6 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/hashicorp/consul affected?
Yes, github.com/hashicorp/consul is affected in releases prior to 1.7.4, 1.6.6. Upgrade your dependency to 1.7.4, 1.6.6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-12797?
CVE-2020-12797 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-12797?
CVE-2020-12797 is classified under CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource (The product specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2020-12797?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/hashicorp/consul'. 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
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-hwqm-x785-qh8p",
  "modified" : "2023-10-02T15:09:54Z",
  "published" : "2021-06-23T17:52:33Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-12797" ],
  "summary" : "Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource\tin Hashicorp Consul",
  "details" : "HashiCorp Consul and Consul Enterprise failed to enforce changes to legacy ACL token rules due to non-propagation to secondary data centers. Introduced in 1.4.0, fixed in 1.6.6 and 1.7.4.\n### Specific Go Packages Affected\ngithub.com/hashicorp/consul/agent/structs",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/hashicorp/consul"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.6.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.6.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/hashicorp/consul"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.7.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.7.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-12797"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/hashicorp/consul/issues/5606"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/hashicorp/consul/pull/8047"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/hashicorp/consul/commit/98eea08d3ba1b220a14cf6eedf3b6b07ae2795d7"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/hashicorp/consul/blob/v1.6.6/CHANGELOG.md"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/hashicorp/consul/blob/v1.7.4/CHANGELOG.md"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-732" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-05-12T22:03:39Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-06-11T20:15:00Z"
  }
}