CVE-2016-0733 in Ranger
Summary
by MITRE
The Admin UI in Apache Ranger before 0.5.1 does not properly handle authentication requests that lack a password, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication by leveraging knowledge of a valid username.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0733 resides within the Apache Ranger administration user interface, specifically affecting versions prior to 051. This authentication flaw represents a critical security weakness that fundamentally undermines the system's ability to verify user identities properly. The issue manifests when the administrative interface processes authentication requests that are missing password credentials, creating an unintended authentication bypass mechanism that can be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the authentication handling mechanism of Apache Ranger's Admin UI. When a user attempts to authenticate through the administrative interface, the system should require both username and password components to establish valid credentials. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to submit authentication requests containing only a username without providing a corresponding password, which the system incorrectly accepts as valid authentication. This improper handling of incomplete authentication data creates a path for unauthorized access that bypasses the intended security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables remote attackers to gain administrative access to Apache Ranger systems without possessing legitimate credentials. Attackers can leverage knowledge of valid usernames to bypass authentication entirely, potentially gaining full administrative privileges over the security policy management system. This access could allow them to modify security policies, grant unauthorized access to resources, or completely compromise the integrity of the security infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal information from the attacker - merely knowledge of a valid username within the system.
The security implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access, as this vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) catalog under CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication. This weakness allows attackers to perform privilege escalation and unauthorized system access, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on Apache Ranger for security policy management. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through legitimate credentials.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Apache Ranger version 0.5.1 or later, which includes proper authentication handling that requires both username and password components for successful authentication. Additionally, administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to the administrative interfaces, employ strong access controls, and conduct regular security audits to identify potential unauthorized access attempts. The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring that authentication requests are properly validated before granting access, thereby maintaining the integrity of the authentication process and preventing the exploitation of incomplete credential submissions.