CVE-2024-0831: Mitigating Sensitive Information Leakage in HashiCorp Vault Audit Log Devices

Understanding CVE-2024-0831: Sensitive Information Exposure in HashiCorp Vault Audit Logs

On February 1, 2024, HashiCorp published a critical security advisory for their Vault and Vault Enterprise products, identified as CVE-2024-0831. This vulnerability, classified as CWE-532, stems from the insertion of sensitive information into log files when configuring an audit log device with the log_raw option.

The issue impacts Vault and Vault Enterprise versions 1.15.0 through 1.15.4 on multiple platforms, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux. When an audit device is configured with the log_raw option, it may inadvertently log sensitive information to other audit devices, regardless of their log_raw configuration. This poses a significant risk, as sensitive data may be exposed without the administrator's knowledge.

Impact Assessment

The impact of CVE-2024-0831 is critical, given the nature of the data managed by HashiCorp Vault. Exploiting this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to sensitive information, leading to potential breaches and data leaks. However, the CVSS v3.1 score, with a base score of 4.5, classifies it as a medium severity vulnerability due to the specific conditions required for exploitation:

• Attack Vector: Network
• Attack Complexity: Low
• Privileges Required: High
• User Interaction: Required
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality Impact: High
• Integrity Impact: None
• Availability Impact: None

According to the CAPEC-268 classification, this vulnerability is categorized under Audit Log Manipulation, which can significantly compromise the confidentiality of the data stored within Vault.

Mitigation Steps

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2024-0831, HashiCorp recommends the following steps:

• Upgrade Vault: Users should promptly upgrade to a version later than 1.15.4, where this issue has been addressed. Refer to the official HashiCorp documentation for specific upgrade instructions at Vault Upgrade Documentation.
• Review Audit Log Configurations: Administrators should carefully review their audit log configurations to ensure that the log_raw option is used only when absolutely necessary and is correctly applied to intended audit devices.
• Monitor and Audit Logs: Continuously monitor Vault audit logs for any signs of sensitive information being logged. Implement routine audits to identify and remove any inadvertent logging of sensitive data.
• Implement Access Controls: Restrict access to configurations and audit logs to trusted administrators with the necessary privileges to reduce the likelihood of exploitation.

By taking these proactive steps, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of sensitive information exposure via audit logs in HashiCorp Vault.

For further details on this vulnerability and official advisories, please visit the HashiCorp Discussion Forum and the NetApp Security Advisory.

Stay vigilant and ensure your Vault deployments are secure against potential vulnerabilities.