CVE-2016-3696 in Pulp
Summary
by MITRE
The pulp-qpid-ssl-cfg script in Pulp before 2.8.6 allows local users to obtain the CA key.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3696 affects the pulp-qpid-ssl-cfg script within the Pulp content management system version 2.8.5 and earlier. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables local attackers to extract the Certificate Authority private key, potentially compromising the entire SSL/TLS infrastructure used by the system. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of cryptographic materials during the SSL configuration process, creating an avenue for privilege escalation and unauthorized access to sensitive cryptographic keys.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient access controls and improper file permissions implemented within the pulp-qpid-ssl-cfg script. When the script executes, it generates and manages SSL certificates and keys for the Qpid messaging system that Pulp utilizes. The flaw occurs because the script does not adequately restrict access to the CA key file, allowing local users to read or copy the private key material. This issue falls under the CWE-276 category of insecure file permissions, where files containing sensitive information are accessible to unauthorized users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the local privilege level, meaning any user with access to the system can exploit it without requiring remote network access or additional authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure. Once an attacker obtains the CA key, they can generate arbitrary certificates that will be trusted by the system, effectively enabling man-in-the-middle attacks against all SSL communications. This compromise undermines the fundamental security model of the Pulp system and potentially exposes all content and metadata managed by the platform. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Pulp for content distribution, as it could allow attackers to inject malicious content or intercept sensitive data transfers. Additionally, the compromise of the CA key may require extensive certificate reissuance and system reconfiguration, leading to significant operational disruption and security remediation costs.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Pulp version 2.8.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. The fix involves implementing proper file permission controls and ensuring that the CA key is protected from unauthorized access during script execution. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of SSL certificate management processes and implement monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to cryptographic materials. Security teams should consider implementing additional controls such as file integrity monitoring and privileged access management solutions to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities in other system components. The remediation process should include regeneration of all certificates issued under the compromised CA and verification of system integrity across all Pulp-managed content repositories. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic key management and access control implementation in enterprise content management systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1552 for credential access through compromised keys and certificates.