CVE-2015-1881 in Image Registry And Delivery Service
Summary
by MITRE
OpenStack Image Registry and Delivery Service (Glance) 2014.2 through 2014.2.2 does not properly remove images, which allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (disk consumption) by creating a large number of images using the task v2 API and then deleting them, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-9684.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1881 affects the OpenStack Image Registry and Delivery Service known as Glance within specific versions ranging from 2014.2 through 2014.2.2. This issue represents a critical flaw in the image management system that enables authenticated attackers to exploit a denial of service condition through strategic manipulation of the task v2 API. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of image removal processes, creating a persistent resource consumption problem that can severely impact system performance and availability. The flaw specifically manifests when users leverage the task v2 API to create numerous images and subsequently delete them, resulting in disk space exhaustion that ultimately leads to service disruption.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inadequate cleanup mechanism within Glance's image management architecture. When images are created through the task v2 API and then deleted, the system fails to completely remove all associated metadata and storage components from the underlying file system. This incomplete removal process creates orphaned storage entries that continue to consume disk space even after the images appear to be deleted from the registry. The flaw operates at the intersection of storage management and API processing, where the system's internal state management becomes inconsistent with its external representation. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in the management of memory or storage resources, and specifically relates to improper resource cleanup operations that can lead to resource exhaustion.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1881 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it creates a persistent threat to system stability and resource availability. Attackers can systematically consume disk space by repeatedly creating and deleting large numbers of images, leading to gradual but steady degradation of storage capacity. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in cloud environments where storage resources are finite and shared across multiple tenants or services. The attack vector requires only authenticated access, making it accessible to users with legitimate credentials who may have malicious intent or whose accounts have been compromised. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper resource lifecycle management in distributed systems, as the failure to clean up properly can result in cascading failures that affect entire infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust image cleanup procedures and monitoring systems to detect abnormal resource consumption patterns. Organizations should upgrade to patched versions of OpenStack Glance that address the specific cleanup mechanism flaws, ensuring that all image deletion operations properly remove associated metadata and storage components. System administrators should implement strict quotas and monitoring for storage usage, particularly when using the task v2 API, to detect and prevent excessive resource consumption. The implementation of automated cleanup processes and regular system audits can help identify and resolve orphaned storage entries before they cause significant impact. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing access controls and API usage restrictions to limit the ability of authenticated users to create excessive numbers of images, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499 which addresses resource exhaustion attacks. Proper incident response procedures should also be established to quickly identify and address potential exploitation attempts, ensuring that system administrators can respond rapidly to prevent complete service disruption.