CVE-2013-0171 in Foreman
Summary
by MITRE
Foreman before 1.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted YAML object to the (1) fact or (2) report import API.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0171 affects Foreman versions prior to 1.1 and represents a critical remote code execution flaw that exploits the application's handling of YAML data in two specific API endpoints. This vulnerability resides in the fact and report import APIs which are designed to process system information and status reports from managed nodes within a network infrastructure. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle serialized YAML objects, creating a dangerous attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary code that gets executed within the Foreman application context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the inherent trust placed in YAML deserialization processes within the Foreman application. When the system processes incoming YAML data through the fact or report import endpoints, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the serialized objects before attempting to deserialize them. This allows attackers to craft specially crafted YAML payloads containing malicious Ruby objects that, when processed by the application's deserialization logic, result in arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically targets the YAML parsing libraries used by Foreman, which are vulnerable to object injection attacks where attacker-controlled data can manipulate the deserialization process to execute unintended operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing Foreman as their primary infrastructure management platform. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains full control over the Foreman server, potentially allowing them to execute commands with the privileges of the Foreman application user, access sensitive configuration data, manipulate system facts and reports, and potentially escalate privileges to gain access to underlying network resources. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on Foreman for managing large-scale infrastructure deployments, as the compromise of a single Foreman instance could provide attackers with access to critical system information and control over managed nodes.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Foreman version 1.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization measures for YAML processing. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected APIs to trusted sources only. Additionally, organizations should monitor for unusual API activity and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-502 which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as defined in cybersecurity frameworks. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for execution through scripting and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, making it a critical target for both defensive and offensive security operations.