CVE-2016-3086 in Hadoop
Summary
by MITRE
The YARN NodeManager in Apache Hadoop 2.6.x before 2.6.5 and 2.7.x before 2.7.3 can leak the password for credential store provider used by the NodeManager to YARN Applications.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3086 represents a critical security flaw in Apache Hadoop's YARN NodeManager component that exposes sensitive authentication credentials to unauthorized applications. This vulnerability affects Hadoop versions 2.6.x prior to 2.6.5 and 2.7.x prior to 2.7.3, creating a significant risk for distributed computing environments that rely on Hadoop's resource management capabilities. The flaw stems from improper handling of credential store provider passwords within the NodeManager's operational context, where these sensitive credentials are inadvertently exposed to applications running on the cluster.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the NodeManager's credential management system where password information for credential store providers is not properly isolated from application processes. When applications request access to resources managed by the NodeManager, the system fails to adequately sanitize the credential information, allowing applications to access or extract password information from the credential store provider. This represents a classic case of insufficient information flow control and inadequate privilege separation between system components and user applications. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," specifically related to improper information handling within system components.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3086 extends far beyond simple credential leakage, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the Hadoop cluster. Once an attacker obtains the credential store password, they can potentially access encrypted data, modify security configurations, or impersonate legitimate system components. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete compromise of the Hadoop cluster's security posture. The exposure of credential store passwords can also facilitate lateral movement attacks within the network, as these credentials may be used across multiple systems or services within the distributed computing environment.
Organizations utilizing affected Hadoop versions face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to their distributed computing resources. The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation attacks that can bypass traditional security controls, making it particularly dangerous in environments where sensitive data processing occurs. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as a critical threat vector in their risk assessments, as it can enable attackers to gain access to data that should be protected by the cluster's security mechanisms. The impact is amplified in cloud environments or multi-tenant deployments where multiple organizations share the same Hadoop infrastructure, as credential leakage can affect multiple users or tenants.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2016-3086 involve immediate patching of affected Hadoop installations to versions 2.6.5 or 2.7.3 and later, which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as network segmentation, access control lists, and monitoring of credential store access patterns. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched systems to ensure compatibility with existing applications and workflows. Security configurations should be reviewed to minimize the exposure of credential information and implement proper isolation between system components and user applications. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust credential management practices within distributed computing environments. The fix addresses the information exposure issue by ensuring proper sanitization of credential information and implementing appropriate access controls to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system components.