CVE-2013-4766 in Eucalyptus
Summary
by MITRE
The gather log service in Eucalyptus before 3.3.1 allows remote attackers to read log files via an unspecified request to the (1) Cluster Controller (CC) or (2) Node Controller (NC) component.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4766 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Eucalyptus cloud infrastructure platform, specifically affecting versions prior to 3.3.1. This issue resides within the gather log service functionality that is designed to collect and aggregate system logs from various components within the cloud environment. The flaw enables remote attackers to access sensitive log files through crafted requests directed at either the Cluster Controller or Node Controller components, which are fundamental elements of Eucalyptus's distributed architecture. The vulnerability demonstrates a significant weakness in the platform's access control mechanisms, as it allows unauthorized parties to retrieve potentially sensitive operational data that should remain restricted to authorized administrators.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control enforcement within the log gathering service. When remote attackers send unspecified requests to the Cluster Controller or Node Controller components, the system fails to properly authenticate or authorize these requests before allowing access to log file resources. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control measures that aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control vulnerabilities. The flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the legitimate functionality of the log collection service to gain unauthorized access to system information, making it particularly dangerous as it exploits trusted service mechanisms rather than bypassing security controls entirely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the compromised log files may contain sensitive data including system configurations, user activities, authentication attempts, and potentially credential information. In cloud environments, such exposure can provide attackers with valuable intelligence for further exploitation, including system architecture details, network topology information, and operational patterns that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or lateral movement attacks. The vulnerability affects the core operational integrity of Eucalyptus deployments and could potentially enable attackers to gain insights into system vulnerabilities, administrative practices, and operational procedures that would otherwise remain confidential. This type of exposure aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers the discovery of system information through log file access, and demonstrates how information gathering can lead to more sophisticated attack vectors.
Organizations utilizing Eucalyptus cloud platforms prior to version 3.3.1 should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to the patched version that addresses the access control weakness in the gather log service. Additional defensive measures should include network segmentation to restrict access to Cluster Controller and Node Controller components, implementation of strict firewall rules limiting access to these services, and monitoring for unusual log access patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control enforcement in distributed cloud environments, where service components must be protected from unauthorized access attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive reviews of log access controls and implement principle of least privilege access models to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other services within the cloud infrastructure stack.