CVE-2020-5262: GitHub personal access token leaking into temporary EasyBuild (debug) logs
Summary
CVE-2020-5262: GitHub personal access token leaking into temporary EasyBuild (debug) logs. Affects easybuild-framework versions < 4.1.2. Fixed in 4.1.2. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- easybuild · PyPI
The same CVE-2020-5262 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
EasyBuild is an open-source framework that automates the installation and management of scientific software on High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems. It integrates with GitHub to provide features like creating new pull requests, merging pull requests, and closing pull requests. EasyBuild uses a GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT) for authentication and authorization. However, a vulnerability in EasyBuild versions prior to 4.1.2 allows the PAT to be leaked into temporary debug log files.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability occurs when using the GitHub integration features in EasyBuild with the --debug option enabled. In this scenario, the PAT used for GitHub authentication is logged in plain text in the top-level debug log file. Although the log file is only accessible to the user's account and is not included in partial log files or software installation logs, it can be inadvertently shared by the user, potentially exposing the PAT. The issue has a CVSS score of 7.7, indicating a moderate severity.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
4.1.2
This is the first release that contains the fix.
pip install --upgrade "easybuild-framework==4.1.2"Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If using EasyBuild versions prior to 4.1.2, it is recommended to avoid using the GitHub integration features. Users should refrain from sharing top-level EasyBuild debug log files unless they are certain that the PAT is not included. It is also advisable to regularly clean up temporary EasyBuild log files in the system's temporary directory.
Conclusion
The vulnerability in EasyBuild versions prior to 4.1.2 allows the GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT) to be leaked into temporary debug log files. To mitigate the issue, users should upgrade to EasyBuild 4.1.2 or later, revoke existing GitHub tokens, and install new ones using the provided command. It is also important to avoid sharing debug log files and regularly clean up temporary log files. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The vulnerability exposes the GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT) used by EasyBuild for GitHub integration. If the log file containing the PAT is inadvertently shared, an attacker could potentially gain unauthorized access to the user's GitHub account and perform malicious actions.
No, only EasyBuild versions prior to 4.1.2 are affected. It is recommended to upgrade to the latest version to mitigate the vulnerability.
No, the PAT is only logged in the top-level debug log file when the --debug option is enabled. It is not included in individual software installation logs or partial log files.
GitHub automatically revokes the token when it detects its exposure in a log file uploaded to the platform.
No, the vulnerability requires local access to the system where EasyBuild is being used. It cannot be exploited remotely.
