CVE-2015-8945 in OpenShift Origin
Summary
by MITRE
openshift-node in OpenShift Origin 1.1.6 and earlier improperly stores router credentials as envvars in the pod when the --credentials option is used, which allows local users to obtain sensitive private key information by reading the systemd journal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8945 affects OpenShift Origin versions 1.1.6 and earlier, specifically within the openshift-node component. This issue represents a critical security flaw that demonstrates poor privilege separation and credential management practices within containerized environments. The vulnerability arises from the improper handling of router credentials when the --credentials option is utilized during node configuration, creating a significant exposure that undermines the security posture of OpenShift deployments.
The technical flaw stems from the insecure storage of sensitive router credentials as environment variables within pods. When the --credentials option is employed, the system persists private key information in a manner that makes it accessible through the systemd journal mechanism. This design decision violates fundamental security principles by exposing cryptographic materials that should remain protected and restricted to authorized processes only. The environment variable storage approach creates a direct attack vector where local users can access these sensitive credentials through standard system logging mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, affecting both the confidentiality and integrity of OpenShift deployments. Local users with access to the system can trivially extract private key information by reading the systemd journal, which compromises the authentication mechanisms used by the router component. This exposure enables attackers to potentially impersonate legitimate services, decrypt communications, or gain unauthorized access to downstream systems that rely on these router credentials. The vulnerability essentially transforms a security boundary into an information disclosure channel, allowing privilege escalation from local user access to potentially full system compromise.
The security implications align with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-259 (Use of Hard-coded Password) categories, demonstrating how improper credential handling can create persistent security weaknesses. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1003 (OS Credential Dumping) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques, as attackers can leverage local access to extract credentials and potentially escalate privileges. The vulnerability also represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, as sensitive information is exposed beyond its intended operational scope.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate remediation through upgrading to OpenShift Origin versions that address this vulnerability, typically those beyond 1.1.6. Organizations should implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized local system access and establish monitoring for suspicious journal reading activities. The recommended approach involves configuring the system to properly secure sensitive credentials using encrypted storage mechanisms, implementing proper environment variable handling, and ensuring that cryptographic materials are not exposed through logging systems. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security audits to identify similar credential storage vulnerabilities across their containerized environments and implement comprehensive credential management policies that align with industry best practices for securing sensitive information in distributed systems.