CVE-2012-4573 in Glance
Summary
by MITRE
The v1 API in OpenStack Glance Grizzly, Folsom (2012.2), and Essex (2012.1) allows remote authenticated users to delete arbitrary non-protected images via an image deletion request, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-5482.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4573 affects the OpenStack Glance service in its v1 API implementation across multiple releases including Grizzly, Folsom, and Essex. This represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security model of the image management system. The issue specifically targets the image deletion functionality where authenticated users can exploit a weakness in the authorization mechanism to remove images that should remain protected. This vulnerability operates independently from CVE-2012-5482, indicating a distinct pathway for unauthorized image removal that bypasses normal protective measures.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation of user permissions during image deletion operations within the v1 API. When an authenticated user submits an image deletion request, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges or ownership rights to perform such an action. This authorization bypass allows malicious actors with legitimate credentials to target images that are marked as non-protected but should remain accessible only to authorized administrators. The vulnerability exists in the API layer where access controls are improperly enforced, creating a scenario where any authenticated user can manipulate the deletion process regardless of image protection status.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized image removal, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of the entire image repository. Attackers can exploit this weakness to delete critical system images, backup images, or user-specific data that may be required for system recovery or business operations. This capability undermines the trust model of the cloud infrastructure, as it allows for data destruction by users who should not have such privileges. The vulnerability particularly affects multi-tenant cloud environments where different users share the same image service but should maintain separate access controls. Organizations relying on OpenStack Glance for image management face significant risks including service disruption, compliance violations, and potential data loss that could impact business continuity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4573 require immediate implementation of proper access control validation within the Glance v1 API. System administrators should ensure that all image deletion operations include comprehensive permission checks that verify both user authentication status and appropriate authorization levels before executing deletion requests. The implementation should follow established security principles including least privilege access and role-based controls to prevent unauthorized modifications. Organizations should also consider upgrading to newer versions of OpenStack Glance where this vulnerability has been addressed through improved API authorization mechanisms. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous deletion patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing audit trails for all image management operations provides visibility into who performed deletions and when, supporting both compliance requirements and forensic analysis capabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including those referenced in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for cloud environments.