CVE-2016-2169 in Cloud Foundry Cloud Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Cloud Foundry Cloud Controller, capi-release versions prior to 1.0.0 and cf-release versions prior to v237, contain a business logic flaw. An application developer may create an application with a route that conflicts with a platform service route and receive traffic intended for the service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2169 represents a critical business logic flaw within the Cloud Foundry Cloud Controller component that affects capi-release versions prior to 1.0.0 and cf-release versions prior to v237. This issue stems from inadequate route validation mechanisms within the platform's routing architecture, creating a scenario where application developers can inadvertently or maliciously register applications with routes that conflict with existing platform service routes. The flaw manifests when the Cloud Controller fails to properly enforce route uniqueness constraints across the entire platform namespace, allowing conflicting route registrations to proceed without proper validation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the platform's route resolution and traffic routing mechanisms by permitting overlapping route patterns between user applications and system services. When a developer creates an application with a route that matches an existing service route, the Cloud Controller does not adequately detect or prevent this conflict, resulting in traffic intended for platform services being redirected to user applications instead. This misconfiguration occurs at the business logic level rather than a simple code execution flaw, making it particularly insidious as it operates within the normal platform workflow processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2169 extends beyond simple traffic redirection, potentially enabling several attack vectors including service disruption, data interception, and unauthorized access to platform services. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to redirect critical platform traffic to malicious applications, effectively performing a form of service hijacking or man-in-the-middle attacks against platform components. The vulnerability affects the core routing functionality of Cloud Foundry, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of platform services that depend on proper route isolation. This flaw particularly impacts multi-tenant environments where proper route separation is essential for maintaining service isolation and security boundaries.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to capi-release 1.0.0 or later and cf-release v237 or later, which contain the necessary route validation fixes. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict route validation policies at the platform level, monitoring for route conflicts, and establishing automated detection mechanisms for overlapping route patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-691, which addresses insufficient control of a resource through a mechanism, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploit public-facing application, as it allows unauthorized traffic redirection through legitimate platform interfaces. Organizations should also review their route management policies and consider implementing route ownership verification mechanisms to prevent unauthorized route registration that could compromise platform service integrity and availability.