CVE-2014-3801 in Heat
Summary
by MITRE
OpenStack Orchestration API (Heat) 2013.2 through 2013.2.3 and 2014.1, when creating the stack for a template using a provider template, allows remote authenticated users to obtain the provider template URL via the resource-type-list.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3801 affects OpenStack Orchestration API component known as Heat within specific version ranges from 2013.2 through 2013.2.3 and 2014.1. This issue represents a significant information disclosure flaw that occurs during stack creation processes when utilizing provider templates. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and improper input validation within the resource type listing functionality of the Heat service. Attackers with authenticated access can exploit this weakness to extract provider template URLs that should remain confidential, potentially exposing sensitive infrastructure deployment configurations and underlying service endpoints.
The technical flaw manifests in the way Heat processes template requests when creating stacks using provider templates. When a user with appropriate authentication credentials attempts to list resource types, the API response inadvertently includes provider template URLs in the returned data structure. This occurs because the system fails to properly filter or sanitize the output data before sending it to authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because provider templates often contain references to internal infrastructure components, service endpoints, and potentially sensitive configuration parameters that should not be exposed to unauthorized parties. The flaw exists at the application layer and can be exploited through the standard Heat API endpoints without requiring elevated privileges beyond basic authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potentially sensitive template URLs that could be used for further exploitation. An attacker who gains access to these URLs could potentially analyze the provider templates for weaknesses in infrastructure deployment patterns, identify internal service endpoints, or use the information to craft more sophisticated attacks against the OpenStack environment. This vulnerability undermines the principle of least privilege and can enable attackers to gather intelligence about the target environment's infrastructure design and deployment strategies. The exposure of provider template URLs may also facilitate attacks such as template injection or manipulation attempts that could compromise the entire orchestration system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3801 should focus on implementing proper access controls and data sanitization within the Heat service API. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of OpenStack Heat that address this vulnerability, as the affected versions are no longer supported. The recommended approach involves implementing strict input validation and output filtering mechanisms to ensure that provider template URLs are not exposed during resource type listing operations. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit which authenticated users can access the Heat API endpoints. Additionally, monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect unusual API access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Disclosure) and could be leveraged by attackers following ATT&CK tactics such as reconnaissance and credential access to gather intelligence about the target infrastructure. Organizations should also review their overall OpenStack deployment security posture and implement comprehensive security controls to prevent similar information disclosure issues in other components of their cloud infrastructure.