CVE-2016-4474 in Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform
Summary
by MITRE
The image build process for the overcloud images in Red Hat OpenStack Platform 8.0 (Liberty) director and Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform 7.0 (Kilo) director (aka overcloud-full) use a default root password of ROOTPW, which allows attackers to gain access via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-4474 represents a critical security flaw in the Red Hat OpenStack Platform deployment processes, specifically affecting the overcloud image build procedures in versions 7.0 (Kilo) and 8.0 (Liberty). This weakness stems from the inclusion of a hardcoded default root password "ROOTPW" within the image construction workflow, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by unauthorized parties. The vulnerability impacts the director components responsible for orchestrating OpenStack deployments, particularly those managing the overcloud full images that serve as the foundation for cloud infrastructure provisioning.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs during the image build process where the default root password is embedded directly into the operating system images used for overcloud deployment. This hardcoded credential creates a universal access point that remains consistent across all deployments using these specific OpenStack versions, making it an attractive target for attackers who can leverage this information to establish unauthorized administrative access. The unspecified vectors of attack suggest that the vulnerability could be exploited through various means including network-based reconnaissance, social engineering, or through compromised systems that have access to the deployment environment. This type of credential management failure aligns with CWE-798, which categorizes the use of hard-coded credentials as a significant security weakness, and represents a classic example of poor security configuration management in cloud infrastructure provisioning tools.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges that can be used to manipulate cloud configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially compromise the entire cloud infrastructure. An attacker who gains access through this default credential can execute privileged operations including but not limited to modifying network configurations, creating additional user accounts, accessing confidential tenant data, and potentially escalating privileges to gain complete control over the OpenStack deployment. The persistence of this default password across multiple deployments means that organizations using these specific OpenStack versions are vulnerable regardless of their network segmentation or other security controls. This vulnerability particularly affects the ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers Valid Accounts, as the default password serves as a legitimate credential that attackers can leverage for persistent access within the cloud environment.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability by replacing the hardcoded default password with a strong, randomly generated credential for all affected overcloud images. The recommended approach involves modifying the image build processes to incorporate dynamic credential generation rather than using static default values. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of their OpenStack deployments to identify any systems still using the vulnerable versions and ensure that all images have been updated with secure credentials. Additionally, implementing automated credential rotation processes and establishing strict access controls around image build environments can prevent similar issues from occurring in future deployments. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of avoiding hardcoded credentials in cloud infrastructure and emphasizes the need for proper security configuration management practices throughout the software development lifecycle.