CVE-2015-0259 in Compute
Summary
by MITRE
OpenStack Compute (Nova) before 2014.1.4, 2014.2.x before 2014.2.3, and kilo before kilo-3 does not validate the origin of websocket requests, which allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of users for access to consoles via a crafted webpage.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0259 affects OpenStack Compute (Nova) across multiple version ranges including releases prior to 2014.1.4, 2014.2.x prior to 2014.2.3, and the kilo release before kilo-3. This security flaw represents a critical authentication bypass issue that undermines the integrity of console access mechanisms within OpenStack cloud environments. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of websocket request origins, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's authentication framework.
The technical flaw manifests in the websocket communication layer where Nova fails to properly verify the origin of incoming websocket connections. This validation gap allows remote attackers to craft malicious webpages that can hijack legitimate user sessions and gain unauthorized access to virtual machine consoles. The vulnerability specifically targets the websocket protocol implementation used for console access, where the system should verify that websocket requests originate from legitimate sources but instead accepts requests from any origin. This weakness directly relates to CWE-346, which addresses "Origin Validation Error" in web applications and systems where proper origin validation is not implemented or enforced.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized console access to virtual machines within OpenStack environments. An attacker could construct a malicious webpage that, when visited by an authenticated user, would establish a websocket connection that appears to originate from the legitimate Nova service. This allows for complete takeover of console sessions, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or unauthorized manipulation of virtual machines. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no direct system access or credentials beyond those of a legitimate user, making it a sophisticated privilege escalation technique.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts" and represents a method of lateral movement and privilege escalation within cloud environments. Organizations using affected OpenStack versions should immediately implement the available patches and updates to address this authentication bypass. Mitigation strategies include enforcing strict websocket origin validation, implementing proper CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) policies, and deploying network-level controls to monitor and restrict websocket traffic. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional authentication layers and session management controls to reduce the attack surface and provide defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and origin verification in distributed cloud computing environments where multiple authentication mechanisms must interoperate securely.