CVE-2012-6120 in Openstack Folsom
Summary
by MITRE
Red Hat OpenStack Essex and Folsom creates the /var/log/puppet directory with world-readable permissions, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information such as Puppet log files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6120 affects Red Hat OpenStack versions Essex and Folsom where the system creates the /var/log/puppet directory with overly permissive world-readable permissions. This flaw represents a significant security oversight in the OpenStack deployment process, as it exposes sensitive operational data to unauthorized local users who should not have access to such information. The issue stems from improper privilege management during the installation and configuration of OpenStack components, specifically within the Puppet configuration management system that is widely used for automating OpenStack deployments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the filesystem permission level where the /var/log/puppet directory is created with permissions that allow any local user to read its contents. This directory typically contains Puppet log files that may include sensitive information such as configuration details, deployment scripts, system credentials, and other operational data that could reveal the internal structure and security posture of the OpenStack environment. The flaw falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-284, specifically relating to insufficient permissions for critical system resources. When local users can access these logs, they gain insights into the configuration management processes, potential security misconfigurations, and operational practices that could be exploited by malicious actors to escalate privileges or conduct targeted attacks against the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used for subsequent exploitation attempts. The exposed Puppet logs may contain sensitive information such as database connection strings, API keys, encrypted passwords, or configuration parameters that reveal the underlying architecture of the OpenStack deployment. This information can be leveraged to identify potential attack vectors, understand system interdependencies, and develop more sophisticated attacks against the environment. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where OpenStack is deployed in multi-tenant scenarios or where local privilege escalation is a concern, as the exposed logs could contain information that aids in bypassing security controls or accessing restricted resources. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the reconnaissance phase of the kill chain and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1005 (Data from Local System).
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6120 should focus on immediate permission adjustments to restrict access to the /var/log/puppet directory and implement proper access control policies for configuration management logs. System administrators should modify the directory permissions to ensure that only authorized users or processes can access the Puppet logs, typically by setting restrictive permissions such as 700 or 750. Additionally, the remediation process should include reviewing and updating the Puppet configuration scripts that create this directory to ensure proper permission settings are applied during installation. Organizations should also implement regular security audits to identify similar permission misconfigurations across their OpenStack deployments and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive log files. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices in configuration management and demonstrates the critical need for proper privilege separation and access control implementation in cloud infrastructure deployments.