CVE-2014-0192 in Foreman
Summary
by MITRE
Foreman 1.4.0 before 1.5.0 does not properly restrict access to provisioning template previews, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via the hostname parameter, related to "spoof."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0192 affects Foreman version 1.4.0 and earlier, specifically targeting the provisioning template preview functionality within the system. This issue represents a critical access control flaw that enables remote attackers to bypass intended security restrictions and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability manifests through the hostname parameter manipulation, allowing attackers to exploit a spoofing mechanism that compromises the integrity of the provisioning process. The flaw exists in the authorization logic that governs template preview access, creating a pathway for unauthorized information disclosure that directly impacts the security posture of managed infrastructure environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control enforcement within the Foreman application's provisioning template handling mechanism. When users attempt to preview provisioning templates, the system fails to properly validate the hostname parameter against authorized access controls, allowing malicious actors to craft requests that traverse the intended access boundaries. This weakness creates a direct pathway for information disclosure attacks where attackers can retrieve provisioning templates and associated configuration data that should remain restricted to authorized personnel. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 related to credential access through spoofing and privilege escalation methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as provisioning templates often contain sensitive configuration details, system credentials, and infrastructure-specific parameters that could be leveraged for further attacks. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can obtain templates that may include database connection strings, encryption keys, or other critical infrastructure details that could facilitate more sophisticated breaches. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system or network, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-tenant or cloud environments where Foreman is used to manage multiple organizations' infrastructure. Organizations utilizing Foreman for system provisioning and configuration management face significant risk of unauthorized access to their infrastructure blueprints and deployment configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0192 should prioritize immediate patching to Foreman version 1.5.0 or later, which contains the necessary access control fixes for provisioning template previews. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Foreman instances to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual template preview requests, implementing stricter input validation on hostname parameters, and conducting regular security assessments of provisioning workflows. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in configuration management systems, particularly those handling sensitive infrastructure provisioning data. Security teams should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect similar access control flaws in other system components and ensure that all template handling mechanisms enforce proper authorization checks to prevent information disclosure through parameter manipulation attacks.