CVE-2013-2161 in Grizzly
Summary
by MITRE
XML injection vulnerability in account/utils.py in OpenStack Swift Folsom, Grizzly, and Havana allows attackers to trigger invalid or spoofed Swift responses via an account name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2161 represents a critical XML injection flaw within the OpenStack Swift storage system that affects multiple versions including Folsom, Grizzly, and Havana releases. This vulnerability resides in the account/utils.py component of the Swift object storage service, which processes account-related operations and handles XML formatted data structures. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate account names in ways that can cause the system to generate invalid or falsified responses, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data manipulation within the cloud storage environment. The vulnerability specifically targets how Swift processes XML input during account operations, making it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant cloud deployments where proper account isolation is essential for security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the XML parsing mechanisms used by Swift's account management utilities. When an attacker supplies a crafted account name containing malicious XML content, the system fails to properly escape or validate the input before processing it through the XML parser. This allows the attacker to inject malformed XML structures that can alter the intended behavior of the account management functions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with network access to the Swift service. According to CWE classification, this represents a variant of CWE-74, which describes "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component" with specific focus on XML injection scenarios that can lead to data manipulation or unauthorized operations within the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to manipulate account metadata, potentially leading to account takeover scenarios or disruption of service availability. In a cloud environment where Swift serves as a core storage component, this vulnerability could allow attackers to create false account entries, modify existing account configurations, or even bypass access controls through carefully crafted XML payloads. The implications are particularly severe in multi-tenant deployments where proper account isolation is critical for maintaining security boundaries between different users or organizations. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain insights into other accounts, manipulate storage quotas, or create persistent backdoors within the storage system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts" and represents a path to lateral movement or privilege escalation within cloud environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2161 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures within the Swift account management components. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches or upgrades that address the XML parsing vulnerabilities in the account/utils.py module. Additionally, implementing strict XML schema validation, input length restrictions, and proper escaping of special characters in account names can significantly reduce the attack surface. Network-level controls such as firewalls and access control lists should be configured to limit access to Swift services to trusted networks only. Regular security auditing of XML processing components and implementing automated monitoring for suspicious account creation or modification patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular account review processes to minimize the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in cloud storage systems and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of XML processing components in distributed storage environments.