CVE-2015-1836 in InfoSphere BigInsights
Summary
by MITRE
Apache HBase 0.98 before 0.98.12.1, 1.0 before 1.0.1.1, and 1.1 before 1.1.0.1, as used in IBM InfoSphere BigInsights 3.0, 3.0.0.1, and 3.0.0.2 and other products, uses incorrect ACLs for ZooKeeper coordination state, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon outage), obtain sensitive information, or modify data via unspecified client traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2022
Apache HBase versions prior to the patched releases 0.98.12.1, 1.0.1.1, and 1.1.0.1 contain a critical access control vulnerability in their ZooKeeper coordination mechanism that fundamentally undermines the security posture of distributed big data environments. This vulnerability stems from improper implementation of access control lists within the ZooKeeper coordination state management, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system through unspecified client traffic patterns. The flaw specifically affects IBM InfoSphere BigInsights versions 3.0, 3.0.0.1, and 3.0.0.2, though it impacts the broader HBase ecosystem where similar configurations may exist. The technical root cause can be categorized under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a significant weakness in the authorization mechanisms that govern distributed system coordination. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of distributed systems security and configuration management, where the failure to properly enforce access controls in the coordination layer creates cascading security implications. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as attackers can leverage this flaw to cause daemon outages that effectively result in denial of service conditions, potentially disrupting critical data processing workflows. The ability to obtain sensitive information through this vector represents a data exposure risk that could lead to information disclosure of confidential operational data, while the modification capability allows for data integrity compromise that could alter the fundamental correctness of analytical processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1836 manifests as a severe threat to the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of HBase-based big data deployments. When exploited, this vulnerability creates a condition where remote adversaries can systematically disrupt data services by causing daemon outages, effectively rendering the database unavailable to legitimate users and applications. The information disclosure aspect poses significant risks to organizations relying on HBase for sensitive data storage, as attackers can extract confidential operational parameters, configuration details, and potentially user data that should remain protected. The data modification capability introduces the possibility of data corruption or manipulation that could compromise the reliability of analytical insights and business intelligence processes. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004, which covers "Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion," though the impact is broader as it affects the entire coordination infrastructure rather than just file-level operations. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets the ZooKeeper coordination layer, which serves as the foundation for HBase's distributed consistency mechanisms, making it a critical attack vector that can cascade through the entire system architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1836 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities in distributed systems. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor patches released for versions 0.98.12.1, 1.0.1.1, and 1.1.0.1, which correct the ACL implementation in the ZooKeeper coordination state management. Organizations should also implement network-level access controls to restrict ZooKeeper communication to only trusted hosts and services, reducing the attack surface available to remote adversaries. Configuration hardening measures include enabling proper authentication mechanisms for ZooKeeper connections and implementing strict ACL policies that enforce the principle of least privilege for all coordination services. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their distributed system architectures to identify similar access control weaknesses in other coordination mechanisms or distributed components that may exhibit analogous vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include monitoring for anomalous ZooKeeper traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as well as implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify unauthorized access attempts to coordination services. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability impacts security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for access control and system integrity, making proper remediation essential for maintaining regulatory compliance in enterprise environments.