CVE-2016-2149 in OpenShift Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
Red Hat OpenShift Enterprise 3.2 allows remote authenticated users to read log files from another namespace by using the same name as a previously deleted namespace when creating a new namespace.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2149 represents a critical access control flaw within Red Hat OpenShift Enterprise 3.2 that stems from improper namespace isolation mechanisms. This issue affects the container orchestration platform's ability to maintain proper security boundaries between different user environments, creating a scenario where authenticated attackers can potentially access sensitive data from other namespaces. The vulnerability specifically manifests when a new namespace is created using a name that previously existed within the system, exploiting a naming conflict that bypasses expected security controls.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the persistence of namespace metadata and associated log file references even after a namespace has been deleted from the system. When administrators or users create a new namespace with a previously used name, the system fails to properly clean or reset the access controls that were associated with the original namespace instance. This creates a situation where log files and other namespace-specific artifacts remain accessible through the new namespace instance, effectively allowing unauthorized data access across security boundaries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations to significant risks including data leakage, information disclosure, and potential compliance violations. Attackers leveraging this flaw can gain access to logs containing sensitive operational information, user activities, system configurations, and potentially application data from other tenants within the same OpenShift environment. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as these logs may contain credentials, API keys, or other sensitive artifacts that could facilitate further exploitation.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with privilege escalation and information disclosure patterns found in cloud container platforms. The attack vector requires only authenticated access to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users who have legitimate access but seek to expand their privileges through unauthorized data access. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as it exploits legitimate user authentication to gain access to unauthorized resources.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enforcing strict namespace naming policies, implementing automated cleanup procedures for deleted namespaces, and ensuring proper access control enforcement during namespace recreation. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that track namespace creation and deletion events to detect potential exploitation attempts. The most effective long-term solution involves patching the OpenShift platform to properly handle namespace lifecycle management and ensuring that all namespace metadata is completely purged when namespaces are removed from the system.