CVE-2020-8827: Github.com/argoproj/argo cd Improper Restriction Of Excessive Authentication Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-xcqr-9h24-vrgw
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-307
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-8827 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) improper restriction of excessive authentication vulnerability (CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts) affecting Github.com/argoproj/argo cd libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts in argo api. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.5.1.

CVE-2020-8827 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-8827
GHSA Identifier GHSA-xcqr-9h24-vrgw
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts
Affected Product Github.com/argoproj/argo cd
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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:H/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 High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2020-8827

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/argoproj/argo cd 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/argoproj/argo-cd fixed: 1.5.1 
Upgrade github.com/argoproj/argo-cd to 1.5.1
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/argoproj/argo-cd

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2020-8827, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/argoproj/argo cd:

inspect dependencies for github.com/argoproj/argo-cd

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/argoproj/argo cd in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.5.1), 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-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts, where the product does not implement sufficient measures to prevent multiple failed authentication attempts within a short time frame. In Github.com/argoproj/argo cd, 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

As of v1.5.0, the Argo API does not implement anti-automation measures such as rate limiting, account lockouts, or other anti-bruteforce measures. Attackers can submit an unlimited number of authentication attempts without consequence. ### Specific Go Packages Affected github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/util/cache

CVE-2020-8827 Affected Github.com/argoproj/argo cd Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.5.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/argoproj/argo-cd
golang/github.com/argoproj/argo-cd
Go
< 1.5.1
1.5.1

References

NVD — CVE-2020-8827 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8827
Github.com/argoproj/argo cd Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/pull/3369
Github.com/argoproj/argo cd Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/pull/3404
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/commit/35a7350b7444bcaf53ee0bb11b9d8e3ae4b717a1
argoproj.github.io/argo-cd/operator-ma... WEB
https://argoproj.github.io/argo-cd/operator-manual/user-management/#disable-admin-user
Github.com/argoproj/argo cd Security Information SECURITY
https://argoproj.github.io/argo-cd/security_considerations
Github.com/argoproj/argo cd Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/argoproj/argo/releases
www.soluble.ai/blog/argo-cves-2020 WEB
https://www.soluble.ai/blog/argo-cves-2020

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-8827?
CVE-2020-8827 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/argoproj/argo cd involving Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts in Argo API under CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts.
Which Github.com/argoproj/argo cd versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.5.1 across affected packages: github.com/argoproj/argo-cd.
What version fixes CVE-2020-8827?
Upgrading to 1.5.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/argoproj/argo-cd affected?
Yes, github.com/argoproj/argo-cd is affected in releases prior to 1.5.1. Upgrade your dependency to 1.5.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-8827?
CVE-2020-8827 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-8827?
CVE-2020-8827 is classified under CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts (The product does not implement sufficient measures to prevent multiple failed authentication attempts within a short time frame.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2020-8827?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/argoproj/argo-cd'. 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-xcqr-9h24-vrgw",
  "modified" : "2024-08-07T19:44:00Z",
  "published" : "2021-07-26T21:19:37Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-8827" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts in Argo API",
  "details" : "As of v1.5.0, the Argo API does not implement anti-automation measures such as rate limiting, account lockouts, or other anti-bruteforce measures. Attackers can submit an unlimited number of authentication attempts without consequence.\n\n### Specific Go Packages Affected\ngithub.com/argoproj/argo-cd/util/cache",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/argoproj/argo-cd"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.5.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8827"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/pull/3369"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/pull/3404"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/commit/35a7350b7444bcaf53ee0bb11b9d8e3ae4b717a1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://argoproj.github.io/argo-cd/operator-manual/user-management/#disable-admin-user"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://argoproj.github.io/argo-cd/security_considerations"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/argoproj/argo/releases"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.soluble.ai/blog/argo-cves-2020"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-307" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-07-26T21:13:31Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-04-08T20:15:00Z"
  }
}