CVE-2020-8828:Argo CD Default Admin Password Vulnerability

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In Argo CD versions prior to v1.5.0, the default admin password is set to the argocd-server pod name. This creates a security vulnerability as pod names are not designed to be kept secret and can be exposed in various places. Malicious insiders with access to the cluster or logs could discover this password and use it to gain administrative privileges within Argo CD, which has privileged roles in Kubernetes environments.

Overview

CVE-2020-8828 affects Argo CD, a popular GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes. The vulnerability stems from a weak default credential implementation where the admin password is set to the argocd-server pod name. This design flaw creates a privilege escalation risk since:

  • Pod names are not considered secret information
  • Pod names may appear in logs, monitoring systems, and other cluster information
  • Insiders with basic cluster access could discover this information
  • The admin account in Argo CD has extensive privileges that could be abused

This vulnerability is classified as both an authentication bypass (CWE-287) and an insecure default initialization (CWE-1188). The risk is highest in multi-tenant environments where different teams or users have varying levels of access to the Kubernetes cluster.

Remediation

To address this vulnerability, organizations should:

  1. Upgrade to Argo CD v1.5.0 or later, which resolves this issue.
  2. Change the default admin password immediately after installation using: argocd account update-password
  3. Consider implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) integration rather than using local users.
  4. Review access logs for any suspicious admin-level activities.
  5. Implement RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) within Argo CD to limit privileges.
  6. Audit who has access to pod information in your Kubernetes clusters.
  7. Consider using Kubernetes secrets management solutions to better protect credentials.

For environments that cannot immediately upgrade, restrict access to pod information and implement additional monitoring for administrative actions in Argo CD.

References

  1. Argo CD Security Considerations: https://argoproj.github.io/argo-cd/security_considerations/
  2. Argo Project Releases: https://github.com/argoproj/argo/releases
  3. Detailed Analysis of Argo CVEs: https://www.soluble.ai/blog/argo-cves-2020
  4. CWE-287: Improper Authentication
  5. CWE-1188: Insecure Default Initialization of Resource

Industry ExposureMost to least
This section illustrates the prevalence of a specific Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) across various industries based on customer reports. The ranking displays industries from the most to least affected by this particular vulnerability, offering valuable insight into where this CVE has been most frequently observed. This information can help organizations within these sectors prioritize their security efforts, understand their relative risk exposure compared to their peers, and focus remediation strategies where they are most needed. By understanding the industry-specific impact, organizations can make more informed decisions regarding patching, resource allocation, and overall risk management related to this CVE.

  1. Management of Companies & Enterprises
    Management of Companies & Enterprises
  2. Transportation & Warehousing
    Transportation & Warehousing
  3. Accommodation & Food Services
    Accommodation & Food Services
  4. Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
    Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
  5. Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
    Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
  6. Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
    Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
  7. Construction
    Construction
  8. Educational Services
    Educational Services
  9. Finance and Insurance
    Finance and Insurance
  10. Health Care & Social Assistance
    Health Care & Social Assistance
  11. Information
    Information
  12. Manufacturing
    Manufacturing
  13. Mining
    Mining
  14. Other Services (except Public Administration)
    Other Services (except Public Administration)
  15. Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
    Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
  16. Public Administration
    Public Administration
  17. Real Estate Rental & Leasing
    Real Estate Rental & Leasing
  18. Retail Trade
    Retail Trade
  19. Utilities
    Utilities
  20. Wholesale Trade
    Wholesale Trade

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Armis Vulnerability Intelligence Database