CVE-2012-5616 in CloudPlatform
Summary
by MITRE
Apache CloudStack 4.0.0-incubating and Citrix CloudPlatform (formerly Citrix CloudStack) before 3.0.6 stores sensitive information in the log4j.conf log file, which allows local users to obtain (1) the SSH private key as recorded by the createSSHKeyPair API, (2) the password of an added host as recorded by the AddHost API, or the password of an added VM as recorded by the (3) DeployVM or (4) ResetPasswordForVM API.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5616 represents a critical security flaw in Apache CloudStack and Citrix CloudPlatform versions prior to 3.0.6, where sensitive authentication credentials are inadvertently stored in plain text within the log4j configuration file. This configuration error fundamentally undermines the security posture of cloud infrastructure deployments by creating persistent exposure points for privileged information. The flaw specifically affects the logging mechanism that captures authentication data during critical API operations, making it accessible to any local user with read permissions on the system files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper credential handling within the CloudStack API endpoints, particularly those responsible for managing SSH key pairs and host/VM authentication. When the createSSHKeyPair API is invoked, the system logs the private key components in the log4j.conf file, while the AddHost API records host passwords and the DeployVM/ResetPasswordForVM APIs capture VM password information. This logging practice violates fundamental security principles and creates an attack surface where local adversaries can directly access these credentials without requiring network-based exploitation or authentication. The vulnerability manifests as a clear path to privilege escalation and unauthorized access to cloud resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5616 extends far beyond simple credential exposure, creating cascading security risks within cloud environments where multiple services and virtual machines depend on the compromised authentication data. Local users who gain access to these log files can immediately establish unauthorized connections to cloud infrastructure, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized resource consumption. The vulnerability affects both SSH private keys and password credentials, providing attackers with multiple vectors for persistent access and lateral movement within the cloud environment. This flaw particularly impacts organizations relying on CloudStack for infrastructure-as-a-service deployments where the logging configuration is not properly secured or audited.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of several protective measures including immediate patching of affected systems to version 3.0.6 or later, followed by comprehensive log file access controls and privilege restrictions. Organizations must ensure that log files containing sensitive information are properly secured with restrictive permissions and that sensitive data is not logged in plain text format. The remediation process should include thorough auditing of log configurations to prevent similar issues in other system components. Additionally, implementing proper credential management practices and secure logging mechanisms aligns with industry standards such as the CWE-532 principle of avoiding information exposure in logs and supports ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation. System administrators should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive log files and establish regular security audits to identify potential exposure points in cloud infrastructure configurations.