CVE-2014-9245 in Zenoss
Summary
by MITRE
Zenoss Core through 5 Beta 3 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by attempting a product-rename action with an invalid new name and then reading a stack trace, as demonstrated by internal URL information, aka ZEN-15382.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9245 affects Zenoss Core versions through 5 Beta 3, representing a sensitive information disclosure issue that stems from improper error handling during product renaming operations. This flaw allows remote attackers to extract internal system details by exploiting a specific sequence of actions involving invalid product name modifications. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker attempts to rename a product using an invalid name parameter, which triggers an internal error condition that subsequently reveals stack trace information containing sensitive internal URL paths and system details.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic improper error handling pattern where the application fails to sanitize or properly manage error responses during administrative operations. When the product rename function receives an invalid input parameter, the system generates a stack trace that includes internal URL information and potentially other system-specific details that should remain hidden from external entities. This behavior directly aligns with CWE-209, which addresses the exposure of stack traces and error messages that reveal sensitive system information. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any remote attacker.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked internal URL information could provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance data for subsequent attacks. The exposed system paths may reveal internal network structures, application architecture details, and potentially sensitive configuration information that could be used to plan more sophisticated exploitation attempts. This vulnerability specifically impacts the Zenoss Core monitoring platform, which is widely used for IT infrastructure monitoring and management, making it a potentially attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise monitoring systems that often contain privileged access to critical infrastructure information.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1069 (Permission Groups) as it provides attackers with information about system internals and potentially access patterns. The vulnerability represents a low-effort attack vector that can be automated and combined with other reconnaissance techniques to build comprehensive attack strategies. Organizations using Zenoss Core should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader security assessment, particularly in environments where monitoring systems have elevated privileges or access to sensitive network information.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include implementing proper error handling mechanisms that prevent stack trace information from being exposed to external users, applying the vendor-provided patches or updates that address the specific error handling issue, and ensuring that all administrative operations properly validate input parameters before processing. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of monitoring systems to untrusted networks, while also establishing robust logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves updating to a patched version of Zenoss Core that properly sanitizes error responses and prevents the disclosure of internal system information during invalid operation attempts.