CVE-2023-4886 is a security vulnerability identified in Red Hat Satellite 6.13 running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8. The issue arises because the tomcat server.xml configuration file, which contains sensitive passwords for candlepin's keystore and truststore, is set with world-readable permissions. This misconfiguration allows any local user on the system with sufficient privileges to read the file and extract these credentials. Candlepin is a key component of Red Hat Satellite responsible for subscription management and entitlement services, and its keystore and truststore passwords are critical for secure communication and authentication within the system. Exposure of these passwords can lead to unauthorized access to subscription services, manipulation of entitlement data, or further compromise of the Satellite server. The vulnerability requires local access with high privileges (PR:H) but does not require user interaction (UI:N). The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.7 reflects a medium severity, balancing the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability with the requirement for local privileged access. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk in environments where multiple users have elevated access. Red Hat Satellite is widely used in enterprise environments for managing large-scale Red Hat deployments, making this vulnerability relevant for organizations relying on this infrastructure management tool.

For European organizations, the exposure of keystore and truststore passwords in Red Hat Satellite can have serious consequences. Confidentiality is compromised as attackers or unauthorized users can obtain sensitive credentials, potentially allowing them to impersonate or manipulate subscription services. Integrity is at risk because attackers could alter entitlement data or interfere with the management of Red Hat subscriptions, leading to unauthorized software usage or denial of legitimate licenses. Availability could also be affected if attackers disrupt subscription services or cause failures in the Satellite infrastructure. Organizations with complex Red Hat environments, especially those in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, may face compliance violations and operational disruptions. The requirement for local privileged access limits remote exploitation but increases the risk from insider threats or attackers who have already gained elevated access. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for targeted attacks. Overall, the vulnerability could undermine trust in subscription management and increase the attack surface within enterprise Linux environments.

To mitigate CVE-2023-4886, organizations should immediately audit the file permissions of the tomcat server.xml file on all Red Hat Satellite 6.13 installations running on RHEL 8. The file should be restricted to only the necessary system users and groups, typically the tomcat or foreman service accounts, removing world-readable permissions. Implement strict access controls and monitoring on the Satellite server to detect unauthorized access attempts. Review and limit the number of users with high privileges on the system to reduce insider threat risks. Apply any patches or updates released by Red Hat addressing this vulnerability as soon as they become available. Additionally, rotate the keystore and truststore passwords after remediation to invalidate any potentially exposed credentials. Employ host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to monitor changes to critical configuration files. Finally, conduct regular security training for administrators managing Red Hat Satellite to ensure secure configuration practices are followed.