CVE-2013-6496 in Conga
Summary
by MITRE
Red Hat Conga 0.12.2 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted request to the (1) homebase, (2) cluster, (3) storage, (4) portal_skins/custom, or (5) logs Luci extension.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6496 affects Red Hat Conga version 0.12.2, a web-based management interface for cluster computing environments. This flaw represents a sensitive information disclosure issue that allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to potentially confidential data through carefully crafted HTTP requests directed at specific Luci extension endpoints. The vulnerability impacts multiple core components of the system including homebase, cluster management, storage configuration, custom portal skins, and system logs functionality. The affected Luci extensions serve as interfaces for various administrative operations and data retrieval functions within the cluster management framework.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the Luci extension handlers. When remote attackers submit crafted requests to the specified endpoints, the system fails to properly authenticate or authorize these requests, resulting in unintended information exposure. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-200, which describes insufficient logging or monitoring, and may also relate to CWE-352, representing cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities that can lead to unauthorized data access. The vulnerability exists because the application does not properly validate the source or intent of incoming requests, allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive system information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations utilizing Red Hat Conga for cluster management. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw can obtain sensitive information including system configurations, cluster status details, storage parameters, and potentially system logs that may contain credentials or other confidential data. This information disclosure can enable further attacks by providing attackers with insights into the system architecture, network topology, and operational procedures. The exposure of cluster management data could lead to privilege escalation opportunities, system compromise, or targeted attacks against other components within the cluster environment. Organizations may face compliance violations and security breaches when such sensitive information becomes accessible to unauthorized parties.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-6496 should focus on implementing proper access controls and input validation mechanisms within the Luci extension handlers. System administrators should immediately upgrade to a patched version of Red Hat Conga that addresses this information disclosure vulnerability. Network-level protections including firewalls and access control lists can help limit exposure by restricting access to the affected endpoints to trusted administrative networks only. Additionally, implementing robust logging and monitoring solutions can help detect suspicious access patterns and unauthorized attempts to access sensitive information through the vulnerable Luci extensions. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary Luci extensions and ensuring that only required functionality remains accessible to reduce the attack surface. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing cluster management operations while maintaining the security posture of the overall system infrastructure.