CVE-2014-0031 in CloudStack
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) ListNetworkACL and (2) listNetworkACLLists APIs in Apache CloudStack before 4.2.1 allow remote authenticated users to list network ACLS for other users via a crafted request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0031 represents a critical access control flaw within Apache CloudStack's network management APIs. This issue affects the ListNetworkACL and listNetworkACLLists API endpoints in versions prior to 4.2.1, where authenticated attackers can exploit improper authorization checks to gain visibility into network access control lists belonging to other users within the same cloud environment. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and privilege enforcement mechanisms that fail to properly verify user permissions when processing API requests for network ACL information.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs at the API request processing layer where the system accepts user credentials and proceeds to execute network ACL enumeration without adequate authorization verification. Attackers can craft specially formatted API requests that bypass normal access controls, allowing them to retrieve sensitive network configuration data belonging to different user accounts. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all cloud computing environments. The vulnerability enables information disclosure attacks where unauthorized parties can gather intelligence about network topologies, firewall rules, and access control configurations of other tenants in a multi-tenant cloud infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks. Network ACL information reveals critical infrastructure details including firewall rules, access control policies, and network segmentation strategies that could be leveraged to plan subsequent attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects cloud environments where multiple users share the same infrastructure, as it undermines the fundamental security isolation that cloud providers must maintain between different customer accounts. The attack vector requires only authenticated access to the system, meaning that any user with valid credentials can potentially exploit this flaw, making it especially dangerous in environments where credential compromise is a risk.
Organizations utilizing Apache CloudStack versions prior to 4.2.1 should immediately implement the available security patches and updates to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Apache CloudStack version 4.2.1 or later, which includes proper authorization checks and input validation for the affected API endpoints. Additionally, administrators should implement network segmentation controls and monitor API access logs for suspicious activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing additional access controls such as role-based access control mechanisms and regular security audits of API endpoints to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1590 (Reconnaissance) as attackers can use the information gathered to plan further infiltration attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing API gateway security controls and request rate limiting to prevent automated exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authorization enforcement in cloud environments and serves as a reminder that even authenticated users must be properly validated before being granted access to sensitive system information.