CVE-2014-5037 in Eucalyptus
Summary
by MITRE
Eucalyptus 4.0.0 through 4.0.1, when the log level is set to INFO, logs user and system passwords, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading cloud-requests.log.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5037 affects Eucalyptus cloud infrastructure software versions 4.0.0 through 4.0.1, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the security posture of cloud environments. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the system log level is configured to INFO, which is a common default setting in many cloud deployments. The flaw enables local attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive authentication credentials by simply reading the cloud-requests.log file, which contains password information in plaintext format.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate logging practices within the Eucalyptus cloud management platform. When the logging level is set to INFO, the system indiscriminately records authentication parameters including user and system passwords as part of the request processing logs. This represents a fundamental failure in information security design principles, as sensitive data should never be logged in plaintext regardless of the logging level configuration. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-532, which describes the insertion of sensitive information into log files, and CWE-200, which addresses information exposure. The flaw operates at the application level and demonstrates poor input validation and output sanitization practices during the logging process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to cloud resources. Local users with access to the system can exploit this weakness to obtain administrative passwords for both user accounts and system-level services, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-tenant cloud environments where multiple users share the same physical infrastructure, as it could allow one user to access another user's credentials. Attackers could leverage this information to perform privilege escalation attacks, access restricted cloud resources, or conduct further reconnaissance activities within the compromised environment.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by adjusting the logging configuration to prevent password disclosure in log files. The most effective approach involves modifying the Eucalyptus system configuration to either disable password logging entirely or implement proper sanitization of sensitive information before logging. Organizations should also conduct immediate audits of existing log files to identify and remove any previously compromised credentials. The mitigation strategies should align with NIST SP 800-53 security controls, particularly those related to audit and accountability, and should follow the ATT&CK framework's technique T1070.002 for log file deletion and T1562.001 for privilege escalation through credential access. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to log files and establish regular log rotation policies to minimize the window of opportunity for credential exposure.