CVE-2013-0267 in VCL
Summary
by MITRE
The Privileges portion of the web GUI and the XMLRPC API in Apache VCL 2.3.x before 2.3.2, 2.2.x before 2.2.2 and 2.1 allow remote authenticated users with nodeAdmin, manageGroup, resourceGrant, or userGrant permissions to gain privileges, cause a denial of service, or conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by leveraging improper data validation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0267 affects Apache VCL versions 2.3.x before 2.3.2, 2.2.x before 2.2.2, and 2.1, representing a critical security flaw in the privilege management system of this virtual computing laboratory platform. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within both the web GUI interface and the XMLRPC API components that govern access control and user permissions. The vulnerability specifically targets users who possess elevated permissions such as nodeAdmin, manageGroup, resourceGrant, or userGrant, which grants them the ability to manipulate system resources and access control mechanisms. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to exploit improper data validation processes to escalate their privileges beyond their intended authorization levels.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests through multiple attack vectors including privilege escalation, denial of service conditions, and cross-site scripting exploitation opportunities. Attackers with the specified permissions can manipulate input data to bypass access controls and gain unauthorized access to system resources that should remain restricted. The improper data validation creates a pathway for malicious input to be processed without adequate sanitization or verification, enabling attackers to inject malicious code or manipulate system states. This weakness directly relates to CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and CWE-79, which covers cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can also facilitate denial of service conditions by exploiting the system's handling of malformed input data.
The operational implications of CVE-2013-0267 are severe for organizations relying on Apache VCL for managing virtual computing environments. The vulnerability allows attackers to potentially compromise entire virtual infrastructure by escalating privileges to gain access to critical system functions and resources. This could result in unauthorized access to virtual machines, disruption of computing services, and potential data breaches within the virtual environment. The cross-site scripting component poses additional risks by allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking or further exploitation of the virtual computing platform. Organizations using affected versions of Apache VCL face significant exposure to these threats, particularly in environments where privileged users maintain access to sensitive computing resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0267 should prioritize immediate patching to versions 2.3.2, 2.2.2, and 2.2.2 respectively, as these releases contain the necessary security fixes for the identified validation flaws. System administrators should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures and ensure that all user inputs are properly validated and escaped before processing. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the impact of potential privilege escalation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched environment to ensure that legitimate functionality remains intact while the security vulnerabilities are addressed. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Apache VCL implementations to identify any other potential vulnerabilities that may have been exploited through similar validation weaknesses. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, emphasizing the need for robust access control mechanisms and continuous monitoring of system activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.