CVE-2015-8559
The knife bootstrap command in chef Infra client before version 15.4.45 leaks the validator.pem...
CVE-2015-8559 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.5) in Chef, published September 21, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.93%, the 80th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
- Severity
- 7.5 HighCVSS 3.1, NVD
- Exploit chance
- 1.93%EPSS, 80th percentile
- Exploitation
- None knownNot on CISA’s or ENISA’s lists
- Fixed in
- No fix listedNo source names one
Description
The knife bootstrap command in chef Infra client before version 15.4.45 leaks the validator.pem private RSA key to /var/log/messages.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
chefUbuntu:14.04:LTS | All versions, plus listed versions 10.12.0-311.8.2-2 | None known |
chefUbuntu:16.04:LTS | All versions, plus listed versions 12.3.0-2ubuntu112.3.0-3ubuntu1 | None known |
chefUbuntu:18.04:LTS | All versions, plus listed versions 12.14.60-312.14.60-3ubuntu1 | None known |
What each source reports
NVD Score used
The knife bootstrap command in chef Infra client before version 15.4.45 leaks the validator.pem private RSA key to /var/log/messages.
- Record
CVE-2015-8559- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 5.0 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-200
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE ListNo score
The knife bootstrap command in chef Infra client before version 15.4.45 leaks the validator.pem private RSA key to /var/log/messages.
- Record
CVE-2015-8559- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2015-8438No score
The knife bootstrap command in chef Infra client before version 15.4.45 leaks the validator.pem private RSA key to /var/log/messages.
- Record
EUVD-2015-8438- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-9pjg-g5g3-w4c2
The knife bootstrap command in chef Infra client before version 15.4.45 leaks the validator.pem...
The knife bootstrap command in chef Infra client before version 15.4.45 leaks the validator.pem private RSA key to /var/log/messages.
- Record
GHSA-9pjg-g5g3-w4c2- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-200
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2015-8559
The knife bootstrap command in chef Infra client before version 15.4.45 leaks the validator.pem private RSA key to /var/log/messages.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2015-8559- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
References
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/12/14/14
github.com/chef/chef/issues/3871
discourse.chef.io/t/chef-infra-client-15-4-45-released/16081
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-8559
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-8559
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-8559