CVE-2014-0041 in OpenStack
Summary
by MITRE
OpenStack Heat Templates (heat-templates), as used in Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform 4.0, sets sslverify to false for certain Yum repositories, which disables SSL protection and allows man-in-the-middle attackers to prevent updates via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0041 affects OpenStack Heat Templates within the Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform 4.0 environment, specifically targeting the configuration of Yum repository security settings. This issue represents a critical configuration flaw that undermines the integrity of software update mechanisms within cloud infrastructure deployments. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of SSL verification settings during package repository configuration, creating an attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise system security.
The technical flaw manifests when OpenStack Heat Templates configure Yum repositories with sslverify set to false, effectively disabling SSL certificate validation for package downloads. This configuration bypasses the fundamental security mechanism that ensures packages are downloaded from legitimate sources and have not been tampered with during transit. The vulnerability operates at the package management layer, where the absence of SSL verification creates opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks that can intercept and modify package contents before they reach the target system. This flaw directly relates to CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation and CWE-310 which covers cryptographic issues in security protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple package management failures, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of OpenStack deployments. Attackers can exploit this weakness to inject malicious packages into the update process, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data breaches, or complete system compromise. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple attack scenarios are possible, including repository poisoning, DNS hijacking, or network interception attacks that can manipulate package contents during download. This vulnerability undermines the trust model that security-conscious organizations rely on for maintaining secure cloud infrastructure environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0041 should focus on restoring proper SSL verification settings within OpenStack Heat Templates and implementing comprehensive monitoring of package repository configurations. Organizations must ensure that all Yum repository configurations enforce SSL verification and validate certificates against trusted certificate authorities. The remediation process should include reviewing all Heat templates for similar misconfigurations and implementing automated checks to prevent future occurrences. Security controls should also incorporate network monitoring to detect unusual package download patterns and implement certificate pinning where appropriate. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1566 which addresses credential access through social engineering, as attackers can leverage compromised package repositories to gain system access. Organizations should also consider implementing software supply chain security measures and regularly audit their cloud infrastructure configurations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in future deployments.