CVE-2014-7230 in Trove
Summary
by MITRE
The processutils.execute function in OpenStack oslo-incubator, Cinder, Nova, and Trove before 2013.2.4 and 2014.1 before 2014.1.3 allows local users to obtain passwords from commands that cause a ProcessExecutionError by reading the log.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-7230 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within OpenStack's oslo-incubator project, specifically affecting core services including Cinder, Nova, and Trove. This issue stems from improper handling of process execution errors where sensitive password information becomes exposed through log files when ProcessExecutionError exceptions occur. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to 2013.2.4 for the 2013.2 release line and 2014.1.3 for the 2014.1 release line, indicating a significant window of exposure across multiple OpenStack service components that rely on the oslo-incubator library for process management operations.
The technical flaw manifests in the processutils.execute function which is designed to execute system commands within the OpenStack environment. When commands fail and trigger ProcessExecutionError exceptions, the logging mechanism inadvertently captures and stores command arguments including password parameters in log files. This occurs because the implementation does not properly sanitize or filter command-line arguments before logging them, creating a scenario where authentication credentials and other sensitive information can be retrieved by local users who have access to these log files. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-200 Information Exposure Through Log Files, which directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1562.001 - Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools, as it enables adversaries to gain access to authentication credentials that could be used for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the OpenStack environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for cloud infrastructure deployments relying on OpenStack services. Local users with access to log files can extract password information from failed command executions, potentially compromising authentication mechanisms across multiple services. This exposure could lead to unauthorized access to storage volumes, virtual machine instances, and database resources managed by Cinder, Nova, and Trove services respectively. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-tenant environments where log file access might be restricted but not completely prevented, as it could enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to other users' resources. The exposure of authentication credentials through log files represents a fundamental breach of security principles and could facilitate further attacks including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and service disruption.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2014-7230 involve immediate upgrading to patched versions of the affected OpenStack components, specifically ensuring that all installations are updated to 2013.2.4 or later for the 2013.2 release line and 2014.1.3 or later for the 2014.1 release line. Organizations should implement comprehensive log sanitization practices that prevent sensitive information from being written to log files, particularly during error handling scenarios. The fix typically involves modifying the processutils.execute function to filter out or redact sensitive parameters before logging occurs, ensuring that password arguments and other authentication data are not included in error messages or log entries. Additionally, system administrators should implement strict log file access controls and regular audit procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive log data. Organizations should also consider implementing centralized logging solutions with proper filtering capabilities and ensure that all log entries undergo security scanning for sensitive information before being stored in persistent storage. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1562.006 - Impair Defenses: Resource Hijacking, as proper log sanitization and access controls directly address the exposure of sensitive information that could be exploited by adversaries.