CVE-2012-3241 in Eucalyptus
Summary
by MITRE
The VMware Broker in Eucalyptus 2.0.3 and 3.0.x before 3.0.2 does not properly authenticate SOAP requests, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary VMware Broker API commands.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3241 represents a critical authentication flaw within the VMware Broker component of Eucalyptus cloud infrastructure versions 2.0.3 and 3.0.x prior to 3.0.2. This weakness stems from insufficient validation of SOAP request authenticity, creating a pathway for unauthorized remote exploitation. The affected system operates within cloud computing environments where the VMware Broker serves as an intermediary for virtual machine management operations, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-tenant cloud deployments where isolation between users is paramount.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the SOAP request processing mechanism where the system fails to adequately verify the credentials and authorization status of incoming requests. This authentication bypass allows malicious actors to forge legitimate SOAP messages that appear to originate from authorized users or systems. The flaw operates at the protocol level where the VMware Broker component does not perform proper cryptographic validation or session management checks before executing API commands. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform operations such as creating, modifying, or deleting virtual machines, accessing sensitive data, or manipulating the underlying virtualization infrastructure without proper authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables complete control over the VMware Broker API functionality. Remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands through the vulnerable interface, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and complete compromise of the virtualized environment. This vulnerability particularly affects cloud deployments where multiple organizations share the same infrastructure, as successful exploitation could allow one tenant to gain access to resources belonging to other tenants. The implications are severe given that the VMware Broker handles critical virtual machine management operations that form the backbone of cloud computing services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3241 focus on implementing proper authentication mechanisms and access controls for the VMware Broker service. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Eucalyptus versions 3.0.2 or later where the authentication flaw has been addressed through enhanced SOAP request validation. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the VMware Broker interface to only trusted administrative systems. Additional security measures include enabling strong authentication mechanisms, implementing proper logging and monitoring of API access, and conducting regular security assessments of cloud infrastructure components. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in remote services. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing to ensure that all SOAP endpoints properly validate authentication tokens and that no bypass mechanisms remain available for unauthorized access to virtualization management functions.