CVE-2015-1772 in InfoSphere BigInsights
Summary
by MITRE
The LDAP implementation in HiveServer2 in Apache Hive before 1.0.1 and 1.1.x before 1.1.1, as used in IBM InfoSphere BigInsights 3.0, 3.0.0.1, and 3.0.0.2 and other products, mishandles simple unauthenticated and anonymous bind configurations, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via a crafted LDAP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1772 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol implementation of HiveServer2 in Apache Hive versions prior to 1.0.1 and 1.1.x versions before 1.1.1. This issue specifically affects IBM InfoSphere BigInsights 3.0, 3.0.0.1, and 3.0.0.2, as well as other products that utilize this vulnerable component. The flaw resides in how the system handles simple unauthenticated and anonymous bind configurations, creating a pathway for unauthorized access that directly undermines the security posture of data processing environments relying on these components.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of LDAP authentication requests where the system fails to properly validate authentication attempts when simple bind operations are performed without proper credentials. When an LDAP client attempts to establish a connection using anonymous bind parameters, the vulnerable implementation incorrectly accepts these requests without requiring proper authentication credentials. This misconfiguration allows attackers to submit crafted LDAP requests that exploit the system's lenient handling of unauthenticated connections, effectively bypassing the intended authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287, which deals with improper handling of authentication credentials, and specifically relates to improper authentication scenarios in network services. This flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the authentication flow where the system should have enforced strict credential validation but instead permitted access through anonymous bind operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1772 is severe and far-reaching within big data environments where Apache Hive serves as a critical component for data processing and analytics. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within Hive databases, potentially leading to data exfiltration, manipulation, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects distributed data processing systems where HiveServer2 acts as the primary interface for database operations, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where large volumes of confidential information are processed. Organizations using IBM InfoSphere BigInsights and similar platforms face significant risk of unauthorized data access, as the flaw allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms that should protect against unauthorized database access. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of data processing workflows, potentially exposing sensitive business information, customer data, or proprietary analytics to malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1772 primarily focus on upgrading to patched versions of Apache Hive where the LDAP authentication handling has been properly addressed. Organizations should immediately update their HiveServer2 implementations to versions 1.0.1 or 1.1.1 and later, which contain the necessary fixes for proper LDAP bind validation. Additionally, system administrators should implement strict LDAP configuration policies that disable anonymous bind operations and enforce proper authentication requirements for all LDAP connections. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of HiveServer2 components to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual LDAP authentication patterns and unauthorized access attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, specifically targeting the T1078 method of valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication, regular security audits, and comprehensive access logging to provide defense-in-depth against similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities.