CVE-2011-1364 in App Engine Python SDK
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in _ah/admin/interactive/execute (aka the Interactive Console) in the SDK Console (aka Admin Console) in the Google App Engine Python SDK before 1.5.4 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that execute arbitrary Python code via the code parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2018
The CVE-2011-1364 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Google App Engine Python SDK administrative interface. This vulnerability exists in the interactive console component, specifically at the _ah/admin/interactive/execute endpoint, which serves as a powerful administrative tool for executing arbitrary Python code within the application environment. The flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the lack of proper authentication verification mechanisms to hijack administrator sessions and execute malicious code without legitimate authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of anti-CSRF tokens within the administrative console interface. When administrators access the interactive console to execute Python code, the system fails to properly verify that requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or exploit existing vulnerabilities in web applications to trick administrators into submitting requests that execute arbitrary code on the server. The code parameter in the interactive console becomes a critical attack vector where malicious payloads can be injected and executed with administrator privileges.
This vulnerability presents severe operational impact as it directly compromises the security of Google App Engine applications. Attackers who successfully exploit this CSRF vulnerability can execute arbitrary Python code with the privileges of the administrative user, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The implications extend beyond individual application security to encompass data theft, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a backdoor to execute code remotely and maintain persistent access to the application infrastructure.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with common CSRF exploitation patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under the technique of privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities. The flaw maps to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities where the application fails to validate the origin of requests. Organizations using the affected Google App Engine SDK versions face significant risk as the vulnerability allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and execute code remotely. The security implications include potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive application resources, and the ability to modify or delete application data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Google App Engine Python SDK to version 1.5.4 or later where the CSRF protection mechanisms have been properly implemented. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as network-level access restrictions, multi-factor authentication for administrative interfaces, and regular security auditing of administrative endpoints. The implementation of proper CSRF tokens and origin validation checks should be enforced across all administrative interfaces to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious administrative activities and unauthorized code execution attempts.