CVE-2014-3496 in OpenShift
Summary
by MITRE
cartridge_repository.rb in OpenShift Origin and Enterprise 1.2.8 through 2.1.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in a Source-Url ending with a (1) .tar.gz, (2) .zip, (3) .tgz, or (4) .tar file extension in a cartridge manifest file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3496 resides within the cartridge_repository.rb component of OpenShift Origin and Enterprise platforms, specifically affecting versions ranging from 1.2.8 through 2.1.1. This represents a critical remote code execution flaw that stems from inadequate input validation within the cartridge manifest processing mechanism. The vulnerability manifests when the system encounters a Source-Url parameter within a cartridge manifest file that terminates with one of four specific archive file extensions: .tar.gz, .zip, .tgz, or .tar. The flaw operates by exploiting improper sanitization of user-supplied input, allowing malicious actors to inject shell metacharacters that are subsequently executed within the system's command processing pipeline.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a command injection vector that leverages the trust placed in cartridge manifest files during the repository processing phase. When the system parses these manifest files to determine how to handle cartridge repositories, it fails to properly escape or validate shell metacharacters present in the Source-Url parameter. This allows attackers to craft malicious manifest files containing specially formatted URLs that, when processed, result in arbitrary command execution on the target system. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of archive file extensions, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through legitimate repository management operations that involve downloading and extracting cartridge packages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within affected environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the OpenShift platform, potentially escalating privileges and executing malicious code with the privileges of the running service. The implications are severe for cloud platform environments where multiple tenants share infrastructure, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to compromise other applications and data hosted on the same platform. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in shell commands, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to command and scripting interpreter execution and privilege escalation.
Organizations utilizing affected OpenShift versions should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the platform, implementing strict input validation for cartridge manifest files, and applying network segmentation controls to limit access to cartridge repository endpoints. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization in systems that process user-supplied configuration data, particularly in cloud and containerized environments where such processing occurs frequently. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual patterns in cartridge repository access and command execution logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of configuration parsing components and the implementation of principle of least privilege controls for system operations that involve external data processing.