CVE-2015-0257 in Enterprise Virtualization Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization (RHEV) Manager before 3.5.1 uses weak permissions on the directories shared by the ovirt-engine-dwhd service and a plugin during service startup, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading files in the directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0257 affects Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager versions prior to 3.5.1, specifically targeting the ovirt-engine-dwhd service and its associated plugin during the service startup process. This weakness stems from improper permission settings on directories that are shared by the service, creating an exploitable condition that compromises the confidentiality of sensitive information. The issue represents a significant security flaw in the virtualization management infrastructure, as it directly enables local users to access data that should remain protected within the system's privileged directories.
The technical flaw manifests through weak directory permissions that are established during the initialization of the ovirt-engine-dwhd service. When the service starts up, it creates and configures shared directories that contain sensitive operational data, configuration files, and potentially credential information. These directories are not properly secured with restrictive access controls, allowing any local user on the system to read files within these locations. The vulnerability specifically exploits the absence of proper discretionary access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized file access based on user privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to organizations relying on Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager for their virtual infrastructure management. Local users who can access these directories may obtain sensitive information including but not limited to database connection strings, authentication tokens, system configuration parameters, and potentially other confidential operational data. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as such data could be leveraged by attackers to escalate privileges, conduct further reconnaissance, or gain deeper access to the virtualization environment. The vulnerability essentially undermines the security boundaries that should exist between different system components and user accounts.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-276, which addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1005 for data from local system. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to RHEV Manager version 3.5.1 or later, where proper directory permissions are enforced during service startup. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough permission audits of all directories created by the ovirt-engine-dwhd service and ensure that appropriate access controls are implemented. Regular security assessments of virtualization management platforms should include checks for similar permission-related vulnerabilities that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive operational data within enterprise virtual environments.