CVE-2010-2238 in libvirt
Summary
by MITRE
Red Hat libvirt, possibly 0.7.2 through 0.8.2, recurses into disk-image backing stores without extracting the defined disk backing-store format, which might allow guest OS users to read arbitrary files on the host OS, and possibly have unspecified other impact, via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2238 affects Red Hat libvirt virtualization management software versions 0.7.2 through 0.8.2, representing a critical security flaw that enables guest operating system users to potentially access arbitrary files on the host system. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of disk image backing stores during recursive operations, creating a path for privilege escalation and information disclosure attacks. The issue specifically manifests when libvirt processes virtual disk images that utilize backing store mechanisms without properly extracting or validating the defined disk backing-store format, leading to potential unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves recursive traversal of disk image backing stores where the system fails to adequately sanitize or validate the backing store format information. This recursive processing behavior creates a potential attack surface where malicious guest users can manipulate the disk image chain to access host filesystem resources that should remain isolated. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple file reading capabilities, as it may enable attackers to execute unspecified other actions that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the host system. This flaw represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and improper resource handling within virtualization management software.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to virtualized environments where multiple users share the same host infrastructure. The potential for guest-to-host information leakage could expose sensitive data, system configurations, and credentials stored on the host system. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, extract confidential information, or potentially establish persistent access to the underlying host environment. The unspecified other impacts suggest that the vulnerability may also enable additional attack vectors beyond simple file access, potentially including system compromise or denial of service conditions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-23 (Relative Path Traversal) categories, indicating improper handling of file paths and directory traversal mechanisms within the virtualization stack. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, specifically targeting the host system through compromised guest virtual machines. Organizations utilizing affected libvirt versions should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions, implementing strict virtualization access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized file access patterns. The recommended approach involves applying vendor security patches, disabling unnecessary virtualization features, and establishing robust network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors.