Skip to content

Symlink following allows leaking out-of-bounds YAML files from Argo CD repo-server

Moderate severity GitHub Reviewed Published Jun 21, 2022 in argoproj/argo-cd • Updated Jan 27, 2023

Package

gomod github.com/argoproj/argo-cd (Go)

Affected versions

>= 1.3.0, <= 1.8.7

Patched versions

2.1.16
gomod github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/v2 (Go)
< 2.1.16
>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.10
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.5
= 2.4.0
2.1.16
2.2.10
2.3.5
2.4.1

Description

Impact

All unpatched versions of Argo CD starting with v1.3.0 are vulnerable to a symlink following bug allowing a malicious user with repository write access to leak sensitive YAML files from Argo CD's repo-server.

A malicious Argo CD user with write access for a repository which is (or may be) used in a Helm-type Application may commit a symlink which points to an out-of-bounds file. If the target file is a valid YAML file, the attacker can read the contents of that file.

Sensitive files which could be leaked include manifest files from other Applications' source repositories (potentially decrypted files, if you are using a decryption plugin) or any YAML-formatted secrets which have been mounted as files on the repo-server.

Patches

A patch for this vulnerability has been released in the following Argo CD versions:

  • v2.4.1
  • v2.3.5
  • v2.2.10
  • v2.1.16

Workarounds

Mitigations

  • Avoid mounting YAML-formatted secrets as files on the repo-server.
  • Upgrade to >=2.3.0 to significantly reduce the risk of leaking out-of-bounds manifest files. Starting with 2.3.0, repository paths are randomized, and read permissions are restricted when manifests are not being actively being generated. This makes it very difficult to craft and use a malicious symlink.

Best practices which can mitigate risk

  • Limit who has push access to manifest repositories.
  • Limit who is allowed to configure new source repositories.

Credits

Disclosed by ADA Logics in a security audit of the Argo project sponsored by CNCF and facilitated by OSTIF. Thanks to Adam Korczynski and David Korczynski for their work on the audit.

References

For more information

References

@crenshaw-dev crenshaw-dev published to argoproj/argo-cd Jun 21, 2022
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Jun 21, 2022
Reviewed Jun 21, 2022
Published by the National Vulnerability Database Jun 27, 2022
Last updated Jan 27, 2023

Severity

Moderate
4.3
/ 10

CVSS base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
None
Availability
None
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

CVE ID

CVE-2022-31036

GHSA ID

GHSA-q4w5-4gq2-98vm

Source code

Credits

Checking history
See something to contribute? Suggest improvements for this vulnerability.