# CVE-2017-8109: SaltStack Salt Information Exposure

> Local attackers can read leaked credentials from Salt Minion configurations due to improper permission handling during salt-ssh operations.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Apr 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xcx4-5wq7-g5g7, PYSEC-2017-82

## What is CVE-2017-8109?

CVE-2017-8109 is a high-severity vulnerability in Saltstack Salt, published on 25 Apr 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The salt-ssh minion code in SaltStack Salt 2016.11 before 2016.11.4 copied over configuration from the Salt Master without adjusting permissions, which might leak credentials to local attackers on configured minions (clients).

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-8109?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including salt. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `salt` | PyPI | From 2016.11 | 2016.11.4 |
| `salt` | PyPI | From 2016.11 | 2016.11.4 |
| `salt` | PyPI | From 2016.11 | 2016.11.4 |

Products: Saltstack Salt.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-8109?

Upgrade salt to 2016.11.4 or later.

## Is CVE-2017-8109 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-8109 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Saltstack Salt

- [CVE-2013-4437](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-4437/): SaltStack insecurely uses /tmp (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2013-6617](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6617/): SaltStack Privilege Escalation vulnerability (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-33226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-33226/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-25315](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-25315/): salt-api unauthenticated remote code execution (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-15751](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-15751/): SaltStack Salt Remote command execution and incorrect access control when using salt-api (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-8109 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-8109 is a high-severity vulnerability in Saltstack Salt, published on 25 Apr 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-8109 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- salt (PyPI): affected from 2016.11; fixed in 2016.11.4
- salt (PyPI): affected from 2016.11; fixed in 2016.11.4
- salt (PyPI): affected from 2016.11; fixed in 2016.11.4

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-8109/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-8109/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-8109
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-8109
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-8109

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-8109/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.