CVE-2016-2788 in MCollective
Summary
by MITRE
MCollective 2.7.0 and 2.8.x before 2.8.9, as used in Puppet Enterprise, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to the mco ping command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2788 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in MCollective versions 2.7.0 and 2.8.x prior to 2.8.9, which is widely deployed within Puppet Enterprise environments. This vulnerability specifically targets the mco ping command functionality, which serves as a core administrative tool for managing and querying distributed systems. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the command processing pipeline, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe given that MCollective operates as a distributed middleware system that facilitates communication between administrators and managed nodes across enterprise networks, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within complex infrastructure environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of command-line arguments and user input within the mco ping command implementation. Attackers can craft specially crafted payloads that bypass normal input validation mechanisms and are subsequently executed with the privileges of the MCollective service account. This flaw aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection vulnerabilities that allow execution of arbitrary commands through untrusted input. The vulnerability's exploitation typically involves crafting malicious input parameters that are passed directly to underlying system commands without proper sanitization, enabling attackers to leverage the command execution capabilities of the vulnerable system. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which describes command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1068, which encompasses privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2788 extends beyond immediate code execution capabilities to encompass broader security implications within enterprise infrastructure. Organizations utilizing affected MCollective versions face potential compromise of entire distributed systems, as the vulnerability enables attackers to execute commands with elevated privileges on managed nodes. This can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and establishment of persistent backdoors within network environments. The vulnerability's presence in Puppet Enterprise installations creates additional risk as it affects configuration management systems that are fundamental to enterprise security operations. Security teams must consider the cascading effects of such compromises, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to manipulate configuration data, disable security controls, or gain access to sensitive system information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with inadequate network segmentation or monitoring capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2788 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MCollective installations to version 2.8.9 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to MCollective services and restrict the attack surface by limiting administrative access to only necessary personnel. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous command execution patterns and unusual network traffic associated with MCollective operations. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems within their infrastructure that might be running vulnerable versions of MCollective or related components. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched environments to ensure that the security fixes do not introduce regressions in legitimate system functionality while maintaining the integrity of distributed management operations. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure preparedness for potential exploitation of this vulnerability and implement proper logging and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts.