CVE-2015-1780 in oVirt
Summary
by MITRE
oVirt users with MANIPULATE_STORAGE_DOMAIN permissions can attach a storage domain to any data-center
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-1780 represents a critical authorization flaw within the oVirt virtualization platform that allows authenticated users to escalate their privileges through improper access controls. This issue specifically affects users who possess the MANIPULATE_STORAGE_DOMAIN permission level, which typically should be restricted to storage domain management operations. The flaw enables these users to bypass normal administrative boundaries and attach storage domains to any data center within the system, effectively granting them unauthorized access to resources they should not be able to manipulate.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the oVirt management interface. When users with MANIPULATE_STORAGE_DOMAIN permissions attempt to attach storage domains to data centers, the system fails to properly verify whether the user has the necessary administrative privileges for the target data center. This represents a classic case of privilege escalation through inadequate authorization checks, where the system does not enforce proper role-based access controls that should prevent users from performing actions outside their designated permission scope.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the oVirt platform. An attacker with MANIPULATE_STORAGE_DOMAIN permissions could potentially attach malicious storage domains to critical data centers, leading to data corruption, unauthorized data access, or even complete system compromise. The vulnerability also enables potential denial of service scenarios where users could attach incompatible storage domains that disrupt normal operations across multiple data centers. This flaw particularly affects enterprise environments where multiple data centers are managed under a single oVirt instance, creating a single point of failure for security boundaries.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation. The flaw demonstrates how insufficient permission checks can create pathways for lateral movement within virtualized environments, potentially allowing attackers to expand their control beyond initial compromised accounts. Organizations using oVirt deployments should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader threat landscape where internal privilege escalation can lead to significant operational disruptions and data breaches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include proper segregation of duties and regular access control reviews.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1780 should focus on implementing proper access control enforcement and regular security audits of permission assignments. System administrators should immediately review and restrict MANIPULATE_STORAGE_DOMAIN permissions to only those users who absolutely require such access for their operational duties. The oVirt platform should be updated to the latest stable releases that include patches addressing this specific authorization flaw. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions that track storage domain attachment operations and alert on unauthorized attempts to modify data center configurations. Regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar authorization gaps in virtualization management systems, ensuring that access controls remain robust against evolving threat landscapes.