CVE-2013-2103 in openshift
Summary
by MITRE
OpenShift cartridge allows remote URL retrieval
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2103 resides within the OpenShift platform's cartridge functionality, which serves as a foundational component for application deployment and management in the Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform. This issue specifically pertains to how the platform handles remote URL retrieval operations within its cartridge system, creating potential security implications for applications hosted on the platform. The OpenShift cartridge system acts as a containerized environment for applications, managing dependencies, runtime environments, and resource allocation while providing isolation between different applications running on the same platform.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient validation and sanitization of remote URLs that cartridges can access during their operational lifecycle. When a cartridge attempts to retrieve resources from external URLs, the platform fails to properly validate the input parameters, allowing malicious actors to craft specially crafted URLs that could bypass intended security controls. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input filtering mechanisms within the cartridge subsystem, where remote URL parameters are not adequately sanitized before being processed by the underlying system components. The flaw enables attackers to potentially manipulate the cartridge's behavior by providing malicious URLs that could lead to unauthorized data access, resource exhaustion, or even remote code execution within the cartridge environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates potential attack vectors that could compromise the integrity and availability of applications hosted on the OpenShift platform. Attackers could exploit this weakness to perform unauthorized data retrieval from internal or external systems, potentially accessing sensitive information that should remain isolated within the platform's security boundaries. The vulnerability also poses risks to system availability, as maliciously crafted URLs could cause resource exhaustion through excessive network requests or connection attempts. Furthermore, the flaw could enable attackers to manipulate the cartridge's operational behavior, potentially leading to privilege escalation or denial of service conditions that affect other applications running on the same platform.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the cartridge subsystem. Organizations should ensure that all remote URL parameters are properly validated against known good patterns and that appropriate restrictions are placed on URL protocols and destinations. The implementation of a whitelist approach for acceptable URLs, combined with proper URL encoding and decoding mechanisms, would significantly reduce the attack surface. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit outbound connections from cartridge environments, preventing unauthorized access to internal systems. The platform should also implement rate limiting and connection timeout mechanisms to prevent resource exhaustion attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and represents a potential pathway for attacks categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol evasion. Regular security assessments and monitoring of cartridge network activities should be implemented to detect anomalous URL retrieval patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.