CVE-2020-8828: Github.com/argoproj/argo cd Argo CD Insecure Default Administrative Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-h8jc-jmrf-9h8f
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-287 CWE-1188
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-8828 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) argo cd insecure default administrative vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting Github.com/argoproj/argo cd libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves argo cd insecure default administrative password. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2020-8828 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-8828
GHSA Identifier GHSA-h8jc-jmrf-9h8f
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Affected Product Github.com/argoproj/argo cd
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

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:U/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 Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2020-8828

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: Latest secure release 
Upgrade github.com/argoproj/argo-cd to Latest secure release
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-2020-8828, 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 the patched release), 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-287: Improper Authentication, where when an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. 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

In Argo CD versions 1.8.0 and prior, the default admin password is set to the argocd-server pod name. For insiders with access to the cluster or logs, this issue could be abused for privilege escalation, as Argo has privileged roles. A malicious insider is the most realistic threat, but pod names are not meant to be kept secret and could wind up just about anywhere. #### Workaround: The recommended mitigation as described in the user documentation is to use SSO integration. The default admin password should only be used for initial configuration and then [disabled](https://argo-cd.readthedocs.io/en/stable/operator-manual/user-management/#disable-admin-user) or at least changed to a more secure password.

CVE-2020-8828 Affected Github.com/argoproj/argo cd Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/argoproj/argo-cd
golang/github.com/argoproj/argo-cd
Go
≤ 1.8.0

References

NVD — CVE-2020-8828 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8828
Github.com/argoproj/argo cd Security Information SECURITY
https://argo-cd.readthedocs.io/en/stable/security_considerations/#cve-2020-8828-insecure-default-administrative-password
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-cd
Github.com/argoproj/argo cd Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/blob/129cf5370f9e2c6f99c9a5515099250a7ba42099/docs/security_considerations.md#cve-2020-8828---insecure-default-administrative-password
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-2020-8828?
CVE-2020-8828 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/argoproj/argo cd involving Argo CD Insecure default administrative password under CWE-287: Improper Authentication.
Which Github.com/argoproj/argo cd versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: github.com/argoproj/argo-cd.
What version fixes CVE-2020-8828?
Upgrading to current release patches (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 Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-8828?
CVE-2020-8828 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-8828?
CVE-2020-8828 is classified under CWE-287: Improper Authentication (When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2020-8828?
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-h8jc-jmrf-9h8f",
  "modified" : "2024-08-07T19:44:16Z",
  "published" : "2021-07-26T21:19:27Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-8828" ],
  "summary" : "Argo CD Insecure default administrative password",
  "details" : "In Argo CD versions 1.8.0 and prior, the default admin password is set to the argocd-server pod name. For insiders with access to the cluster or logs, this issue could be abused for privilege escalation, as Argo has privileged roles. A malicious insider is the most realistic threat, but pod names are not meant to be kept secret and could wind up just about anywhere.\n\n#### Workaround:\n\nThe recommended mitigation as described in the user documentation is to use SSO integration. The default admin password should only be used for initial configuration and then [disabled](https://argo-cd.readthedocs.io/en/stable/operator-manual/user-management/#disable-admin-user) or at least changed to a more secure password.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/argoproj/argo-cd"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.8.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8828"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://argo-cd.readthedocs.io/en/stable/security_considerations/#cve-2020-8828-insecure-default-administrative-password"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://argoproj.github.io/argo-cd/security_considerations"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/blob/129cf5370f9e2c6f99c9a5515099250a7ba42099/docs/security_considerations.md#cve-2020-8828---insecure-default-administrative-password"
  }, {
    "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-1188", "CWE-287" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-07-26T21:14:45Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-04-08T20:15:00Z"
  }
}