CVE-2013-3703 in Open Build Service API
Summary
by MITRE
The controller of the Open Build Service API prior to version 2.4.4 is missing a write permission check, allowing an authenticated attacker to add or remove user roles from packages and/or project meta data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3703 affects the Open Build Service API implementation prior to version 2.4.4, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security controls of the build automation platform. This issue resides within the controller component responsible for managing user permissions and access controls within the Open Build Service environment, which is widely utilized by organizations for automated software compilation and distribution processes. The Open Build Service serves as a centralized platform for managing software builds across multiple distributions and architectures, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges within development ecosystems. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the absence of proper write permission validation within the API controller, creating a path for authenticated attackers to manipulate user roles and access permissions without proper authorization.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and access control checks within the API controller logic, where the system fails to verify whether authenticated users possess the necessary write permissions before allowing modifications to package or project metadata. This authorization bypass occurs at the application level within the controller layer, where user requests for role modifications are processed without proper validation of the requester's privileges. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all access control mechanisms. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate user permissions to elevate their privileges or restrict access for legitimate users, potentially compromising the entire build environment and associated software projects.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can lead to complete compromise of the build environment's integrity and security posture. An authenticated attacker with minimal privileges could gain the ability to add or remove user roles from packages and project metadata, effectively allowing them to modify access controls for sensitive software components. This capability enables attackers to create backdoor access points, disable security controls, or manipulate build processes to introduce malicious code into software distributions. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Open Build Service for their software development workflows, potentially exposing critical infrastructure components to unauthorized modifications that could go undetected for extended periods. The impact is particularly severe in environments where multiple teams collaborate on software projects, as unauthorized role modifications could disrupt legitimate development processes and compromise the security of entire software supply chains.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3703 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided patch for Open Build Service version 2.4.4, which addresses the missing write permission checks in the API controller. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control reviews to identify and remediate similar authorization flaws in their systems, ensuring that all write operations within API controllers include proper permission validation checks. The fix should incorporate proper authentication and authorization layers that verify user privileges before allowing modifications to package or project metadata, aligning with the principle of least privilege and defense in depth strategies. Security teams should conduct regular audits of API controllers and access control mechanisms to identify potential authorization bypass vulnerabilities, while implementing logging and monitoring solutions that track unauthorized access attempts and privilege modifications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication for API access and regular security assessments of their build automation environments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their software development infrastructure. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in distributed build systems and highlights the need for continuous security validation of core platform components that manage user permissions and system integrity.