// For flags

CVE-2021-3429

sensitive data exposure in cloud-init logs

Severity Score

5.5
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

When instructing cloud-init to set a random password for a new user account, versions before 21.2 would write that password to the world-readable log file /var/log/cloud-init-output.log. This could allow a local user to log in as another user.

A flaw was found in cloud-init. When a system is configured through cloud-init and the "Set Passwords" module is used with "chpasswd" directive and "RANDOM", the randomly generated password for the relative user is written in clear-text in a file readable by any existing user of the system. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and it may allow a local attacker to log in as another user.

*Credits: Carl Pearson
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2021-03-10 CVE Reserved
  • 2021-08-10 CVE Published
  • 2023-04-20 EPSS Updated
  • 2024-08-03 CVE Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Canonical
Search vendor "Canonical"
 Cloud-init
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Cloud-init"
 < 21.2
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Cloud-init" and version " < 21.2"
-
Affected