CVE-2012-6118 in Aeolus Conductor
Summary
by MITRE
The Administer tab in Aeolus Conductor allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended quota restrictions by updating the Maximum Running Instances quota user setting.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6118 resides within the Aeolus Conductor administrative interface, specifically affecting the Administer tab functionality. This issue represents a significant authorization bypass flaw that undermines the system's resource management controls. The affected component operates as part of cloud infrastructure management software designed to control and monitor computational resources within cloud environments. The vulnerability manifests when authenticated users manipulate the Maximum Running Instances quota user setting, effectively circumventing established restrictions that should limit concurrent instance operations. This weakness directly impacts the integrity of resource allocation policies that are fundamental to cloud security and operational governance.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the administrative user interface. When users with appropriate authentication credentials attempt to modify quota settings, the system fails to properly validate whether the requested changes exceed established limits or violate predefined security boundaries. This flaw falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-285, specifically relating to authorization bypass mechanisms. The vulnerability allows malicious or unauthorized users to escalate their privileges within the system by simply updating specific configuration parameters that control resource consumption limits. The flaw essentially permits users to override system-imposed constraints without proper administrative approval or additional verification mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to cloud infrastructure security and resource management. Attackers who can authenticate to the system can potentially consume excessive computational resources, leading to denial of service conditions for other legitimate users. The impact extends beyond simple resource exhaustion as it undermines the entire quota enforcement mechanism that organizations rely upon to maintain predictable costs and performance levels. Organizations utilizing Aeolus Conductor may experience unexpected billing charges, degraded service quality for other users, and potential system instability due to resource starvation. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for privilege escalation attacks where users can gain unauthorized access to additional system capabilities beyond their intended scope. This weakness directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which involves valid accounts used to gain access to systems and resources.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and authorization controls within the administrative interface. System administrators should ensure that all user modifications to quota settings undergo comprehensive validation checks that verify against established policy parameters. The implementation of multi-factor authorization for critical configuration changes would significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized modifications. Additionally, audit logging should be enhanced to track all quota modifications and alert administrators to suspicious activities. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls that limit which users can modify quota settings, ensuring that only designated administrators have these privileges. The fix should involve strengthening the administrative interface to prevent users from bypassing the quota enforcement mechanisms entirely, potentially through the implementation of mandatory access controls that enforce resource limits regardless of user input. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining proper separation of duties and authorization boundaries within cloud management systems, as highlighted in industry best practices for cloud security frameworks and compliance requirements.