CVE-2015-3270 in Ambari
Summary
by MITRE
Apache Ambari before 2.0.2 or 2.1.x before 2.1.1 allows remote authenticated users to gain administrative privileges via unspecified vectors, possibly related to changing passwords.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2018
Apache Ambari represents a comprehensive management platform for Hadoop clusters that provides web-based interfaces for monitoring and managing big data environments. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3270 affects versions prior to 2.0.2 and 2.1.1, creating a critical security weakness that could be exploited by authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges. This flaw specifically relates to the password change functionality within the application's authentication system, where improper access controls or validation mechanisms allow malicious users to manipulate administrative permissions. The vulnerability exists in the privilege escalation pathway that should normally require administrative credentials or specific authorization levels to execute password modification operations. Attackers leveraging this weakness could potentially modify user accounts, particularly those with elevated privileges, thereby undermining the security model of the entire Hadoop ecosystem managed through Ambari.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions during password change operations within the Ambari web application. When authenticated users attempt to modify passwords, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary authorization level to perform such actions on target accounts. This weakness creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation attacks where regular users might be able to manipulate administrative accounts through malformed requests or by exploiting inconsistencies in the authentication flow. The vulnerability could manifest through various attack vectors including direct API manipulation, session hijacking, or by exploiting the application's lack of proper input sanitization when processing password change requests. The underlying flaw likely resides in the application's user permission model and how it validates access rights during sensitive operations like credential modifications, creating a scenario where the system fails to enforce proper security boundaries between different user roles.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3270 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially compromising the entire Hadoop cluster management infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain administrative access to the Ambari console, thereby obtaining complete control over cluster configurations, user management, and data access policies. This level of access would enable malicious actors to modify cluster settings, disable security features, or even inject malicious code into the Hadoop environment. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where Ambari manages critical data processing pipelines and where unauthorized access could lead to data breaches, service disruption, or compliance violations. The vulnerability essentially undermines the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design, allowing unauthorized users to bypass normal access controls and assume administrative responsibilities.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Apache Ambari versions 2.0.2 or 2.1.1 and later, which contain the necessary security patches to address the privilege escalation vulnerability. Security administrators should also review and audit existing user permissions within Ambari to ensure that only authorized personnel maintain administrative access levels. Network segmentation and additional monitoring controls should be implemented to detect suspicious authentication patterns or unauthorized password change attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Hadoop environments to identify potential exploitation vectors and ensure proper access controls are in place. Additionally, implementing automated patch management processes and regular security scanning will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.