CVE-2015-0238 in openshift
Summary
by MITRE
selinux-policy as packaged in Red Hat OpenShift 2 allows attackers to obtain process listing information via a privilege escalation attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0238 resides within the selinux-policy implementation distributed with Red Hat OpenShift 2, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables unauthorized attackers to access process listing information. This vulnerability specifically targets the security policies governing the Linux Security Module framework, which is designed to enforce mandatory access controls within the operating system. The flaw manifests when the SELinux policy configuration fails to properly restrict access to process information, creating an unintended pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges and gain visibility into running processes on the system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access control enforcement within the SELinux policy rules that govern process visibility and system introspection capabilities. When an attacker exploits this weakness, they can leverage the improperly configured security context to bypass normal access restrictions that should prevent unauthorized process enumeration. This type of flaw typically involves misconfigured domain transitions or role-based access control rules that fail to properly constrain the capabilities of unprivileged users or processes. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level where SELinux policies interact with the security subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring direct system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0238 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as process listing information serves as a crucial reconnaissance tool for attackers seeking to understand system behavior and identify potential targets for further exploitation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains the ability to enumerate running processes, which can reveal running services, user accounts, and potentially sensitive applications that might be vulnerable to additional attacks. This information disclosure can facilitate subsequent attacks such as privilege escalation, service exploitation, or targeted attacks against specific applications. The vulnerability affects the core security infrastructure of OpenShift 2, potentially compromising the entire container orchestration platform's security posture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of updated SELinux policies and system patches provided by Red Hat. Organizations should ensure that their OpenShift 2 environments are updated to versions containing the patched selinux-policy packages that properly enforce access controls for process information. Security administrators should also conduct thorough audits of existing SELinux policies to identify and correct similar misconfigurations that might exist in other security contexts. The remediation process should include verifying that domain transitions and access control rules properly enforce the principle of least privilege, ensuring that processes can only access information necessary for their legitimate operations. Additionally, monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts to process information, as this vulnerability can be exploited in automated attack scenarios.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-250, which describes improper privilege management, and represents a classic example of how security policy misconfigurations can create attack vectors for privilege escalation. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting legitimate credentials and privileges to gain access to systems, as the vulnerability allows attackers to escalate their privileges through improper access control enforcement. The impact of such vulnerabilities is particularly severe in containerized environments like OpenShift, where multiple applications and services operate under shared infrastructure and where proper isolation is critical for maintaining security boundaries. Organizations should treat this as a high-priority vulnerability requiring immediate attention to prevent potential compromise of their container orchestration platforms.