Amazon EC2 Security Flaw: The Path to Privilege Escalation (and How It Got Patched)
A now-patched flaw in Amazon EC2 SSM Agent allowed attackers to elevate privileges and execute code by exploiting improper validation of plugin IDs. This path traversal vulnerability, rooted in the “ValidatePluginId” function, let attackers craft malicious IDs to manipulate the filesystem. Amazon fixed this with the release of version 3.3.1957.0.
Hot Take:
Who knew that plugin IDs could be the bad boys of the cybersecurity world? They’re like those sneaky teens who use fake IDs to get into clubs they’re not supposed to. This time, they’re trying to break into your servers and cause a ruckus! But fear not, Amazon’s bouncers have patched up the security holes. So, no more unauthorized party crashing!
Key Points:
- A security flaw in Amazon EC2 SSM Agent allowed privilege escalation and code execution.
- The vulnerability was due to improper validation of plugin IDs, leading to path traversal.
- The issue was rooted in a function called “ValidatePluginId” within pluginutil.go.
- The flaw was responsibly disclosed and patched by Amazon in March 2025.
- Amazon SSM Agent version 3.3.1957.0 includes a fix to prevent path traversal.
Already a member? Log in here