CVE-2014-5036 in Eucalyptus
Summary
by MITRE
The Storage Controller (SC) component in Eucalyptus 3.4.2 through 4.0.x before 4.0.1, when Dell Equallogic SAN is used, logs the CHAP user credentials, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the logs.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5036 represents a critical security flaw within the Storage Controller component of Eucalyptus cloud infrastructure software. This issue specifically affects versions 3.4.2 through 4.0.x prior to 4.0.1 when integrated with Dell Equallogic Storage Area Network solutions. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication credentials within the logging mechanisms of the storage controller, creating a significant exposure point for sensitive information.
The technical flaw manifests in the Storage Controller's logging behavior where CHAP (Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol) user credentials are being written to log files without adequate sanitization or encryption. CHAP is a standard authentication protocol used in storage networks to verify the identity of hosts and servers, making the exposure of these credentials particularly dangerous. When the storage controller interacts with Dell Equallogic SAN devices, it generates log entries that inadvertently capture the username and password components of CHAP authentication, which are then stored in plain text within the system's logging infrastructure.
This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-532, which describes the insertion of sensitive information into log files, and represents a classic case of information exposure through improper logging practices. The operational impact of this flaw is substantial as local users who can access the system's log files gain immediate access to authentication credentials that could be used to compromise the storage network. Attackers could leverage this information to gain unauthorized access to shared storage resources, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, and unauthorized data manipulation within the storage environment.
The security implications extend beyond simple credential theft, as these exposed credentials could enable attackers to establish persistent access to the storage infrastructure, potentially affecting multiple virtual machines or services that depend on the shared storage resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in cloud environments where multiple tenants share storage infrastructure, as it could allow one malicious user to compromise the storage access of other users within the same system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including disabling or restricting access to storage controller logs, implementing log file access controls, and ensuring that authentication credentials are not stored in plain text within any system logs. Additionally, upgrading to Eucalyptus version 4.0.1 or later is crucial as this release contains the necessary patches to address the logging vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under T1070.004 for Indicator Removal on Host and T1566 for Phishing, as the exposure of authentication credentials through logging represents both a data exposure and potential entry point for further attacks. System administrators should also consider implementing centralized logging solutions with proper credential sanitization and access controls to prevent similar issues in other components of the storage infrastructure.