Platform
ruby
Component
puppet
Fixed in
2.7.18
CVE-2012-3408 affects Puppet versions 2.7.9 and earlier, and Puppet Enterprise versions prior to 2.5.2. This vulnerability stems from Puppet's handling of certnames, allowing the use of IP addresses without adequate warnings. An attacker could potentially spoof a Puppet agent by acquiring and reusing a previously used IP address, leading to unauthorized access and configuration changes. A fix is available in Puppet 2.7.18.
The primary impact of CVE-2012-3408 is the potential for agent spoofing. An attacker who can obtain a previously used IP address can register a new agent with that IP, effectively impersonating a legitimate agent. This could allow the attacker to execute commands on managed nodes as if they were authorized, potentially leading to unauthorized configuration changes, data exfiltration, or even complete compromise of the Puppet infrastructure. While the CVSS score is LOW, the potential for unauthorized access and control makes this a significant concern, especially in environments with strict access controls and sensitive data.
CVE-2012-3408 was published in 2017. There is no indication of active exploitation campaigns targeting this vulnerability. It is not listed on KEV or EPSS. The LOW CVSS score reflects the relatively low probability of exploitation, requiring specific knowledge of previously used IP addresses within the Puppet environment.
Exploit Status
EPSS
0.26% (49% percentile)
The recommended mitigation for CVE-2012-3408 is to upgrade to Puppet version 2.7.18 or later. This version addresses the vulnerability by implementing stricter validation of certnames. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of a successful spoofing attack. Review your Puppet configuration to ensure that certnames are not easily predictable or guessable. While a WAF or proxy cannot directly mitigate this, restricting access to the Puppet master based on IP address can reduce the attack surface. After upgrading, verify agent authentication by attempting to connect a new agent with a previously used IP address; it should be rejected.
No official patch available. Check for workarounds or monitor for updates.
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CVE-2012-3408 is a vulnerability in Puppet versions ≤2.7.9 and Puppet Enterprise before 2.5.2 that allows attackers to spoof Puppet agents by reusing IP addresses in certnames, potentially leading to unauthorized access.
You are affected if you are running Puppet versions 2.7.9 or earlier, or Puppet Enterprise versions prior to 2.5.2. Check your Puppet version using pupdump version.
Upgrade to Puppet version 2.7.18 or later to resolve this vulnerability. This update implements stricter validation of certnames.
There is no public evidence of active exploitation campaigns targeting CVE-2012-3408 at this time.
Refer to the official Puppet security advisory for CVE-2012-3408: https://puppet.com/security/advisories/cve-2012-3408
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