CVE-2015-3010 in ceph-deploy
Summary
by MITRE
ceph-deploy before 1.5.23 uses weak permissions (644) for ceph/ceph.client.admin.keyring, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3010 affects ceph-deploy versions prior to 1.5.23 and represents a critical permission misconfiguration issue within the Ceph storage system deployment tool. This flaw specifically impacts the ceph.client.admin.keyring file which serves as a crucial administrative credential storage mechanism within Ceph clusters. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly secure sensitive keyring files during deployment operations, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the security posture of Ceph environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves ceph-deploy setting overly permissive file permissions of 644 on the administrative keyring file, which should typically require more restrictive access controls. The 644 permission mode allows the file owner to read and write while granting read-only access to group members and others, creating an unnecessary exposure vector. This weak permission setting directly violates security best practices for credential storage and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. The keyring file contains administrative credentials that would allow unauthorized access to the entire Ceph cluster, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user or shared hosting environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3010 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as local users with read access to the keyring file can potentially escalate their privileges and gain full administrative control over Ceph storage clusters. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, which specifically addresses cases where security-critical resources are improperly protected. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the vulnerability does not require network access or complex exploitation techniques, making it easily accessible to local attackers who may already have system-level access. In cloud or shared hosting environments, this weakness could enable privilege escalation attacks that compromise entire storage infrastructures. The vulnerability also intersects with ATT&CK technique T1552.001: Unsecured Credentials, as it represents a failure to properly secure authentication materials within the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3010 should prioritize immediate remediation through upgrading to ceph-deploy version 1.5.23 or later, which properly implements secure permission settings for keyring files. Organizations should conduct comprehensive audits of their Ceph deployments to identify any instances where vulnerable versions have been used, particularly focusing on keyring file permissions and access controls. System administrators should implement additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive credential files, and establish automated processes to verify proper permission settings on deployment artifacts. The fix implemented in version 1.5.23 typically involves setting restrictive permissions such as 600, ensuring that only the file owner can read and write the administrative keyring, thereby preventing unauthorized access while maintaining operational functionality. Security teams should also consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect any unauthorized modifications to critical credential files, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control mechanisms in distributed storage systems.