CVE-2014-0153 in oVirt
Summary
by MITRE
The REST API in oVirt 3.4.0 and earlier stores session IDs in HTML5 local storage, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted web page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0153 resides within the REST API implementation of oVirt version 3.4.0 and earlier systems, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of session management mechanisms. This issue specifically manifests in how the system handles authentication tokens and session identifiers, creating an exploitable condition that enables unauthorized access to sensitive operational data. The flaw directly impacts the security posture of virtualization environments managed through oVirt, potentially compromising the confidentiality and availability of critical infrastructure resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper storage of session identifiers within HTML5 local storage mechanisms rather than utilizing secure, server-side session management practices. When users authenticate to the oVirt management interface, the system generates session IDs that should remain confidential and protected from client-side access. However, the flawed implementation stores these identifiers in browser local storage, which makes them accessible to malicious web pages through cross-site scripting techniques. This design decision violates fundamental security principles for session management and creates a persistent vulnerability that persists across browser sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the means to impersonate legitimate users within the oVirt environment. Remote attackers can craft malicious web pages that leverage the HTML5 local storage API to extract session identifiers from compromised browsers, subsequently using these tokens to gain unauthorized access to virtual machine management functions, configuration data, and operational controls. This attack vector represents a sophisticated approach to privilege escalation that bypasses traditional authentication mechanisms and directly targets the session management layer of the application.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and CWE-312, which covers "Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information." These classifications emphasize the fundamental flaw in storing sensitive session data in an insecure manner that makes it accessible to unauthorized parties. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566, "Phishing," and T1078, "Valid Accounts," as attackers can leverage the stolen session identifiers to establish persistent access to the virtualization platform. The threat actor can exploit this weakness to maintain long-term access to critical infrastructure resources without requiring additional authentication credentials.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper session management protocols that prevent client-side storage of sensitive session identifiers. Organizations must update to oVirt versions that address this vulnerability through secure session handling mechanisms, including the implementation of secure HTTP-only cookies and server-side session storage. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the REST API endpoints, while regular security audits should verify that session management practices adhere to industry standards. The remediation process must also include comprehensive staff training on secure coding practices and the importance of proper session handling in web applications.