CVE-2016-4949 in Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cloudera Manager 5.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a (1) stderr.log or (2) stdout.log value in the filename parameter to /cmf/process/<process_id>/logs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4949 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Cloudera Manager versions 5.5 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the process logging functionality of the Cloudera management platform, which is widely used for monitoring and managing large-scale Hadoop clusters. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of log file requests through the REST API endpoint cmf/process/<process_id>/logs, where attackers can manipulate the filename parameter to access sensitive system information. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms that fail to properly restrict file access based on user permissions or process boundaries. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as Cloudera Manager serves as a central management interface for enterprise big data environments, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to gather intelligence about system configurations, running processes, and potentially sensitive operational data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal and information disclosure pattern that can be exploited through improper parameter validation. When attackers submit malicious values for the filename parameter, including stderr.log or stdout.log, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before attempting to access the corresponding log files. This lack of input sanitization creates an opportunity for unauthorized access to process logs that may contain sensitive information such as database credentials, configuration parameters, system paths, or other operational details that could be leveraged for further exploitation. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which specifically addresses Information Exposure, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers File and Directory Discovery. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve process-specific log data that should typically be restricted to authorized administrators or system processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can significantly weaken the overall security posture of Cloudera Manager deployments. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain insights into running processes, system configurations, and potentially sensitive operational details that could be used for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The exposure of stderr.log and stdout.log files can reveal sensitive data including but not limited to database connection strings, API keys, system user credentials, and internal system paths that are not meant to be publicly accessible. Organizations using Cloudera Manager in production environments face increased risk of data breaches, system compromise, and regulatory compliance violations when this vulnerability remains unpatched. The impact is particularly severe in environments where Cloudera Manager controls critical data processing infrastructure, as the leaked information could enable attackers to identify potential attack vectors, understand system architecture, and plan more sophisticated attacks against the broader infrastructure. This vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth, as it allows unauthorized access to system information that should remain protected within the confines of proper access controls.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by upgrading to Cloudera Manager version 5.6 or later, where the issue has been resolved through proper input validation and access control enforcement. The recommended approach includes applying the vendor-provided security patches and ensuring that proper access controls are implemented at both the application and network levels. Additional mitigations should include network segmentation to limit access to the Cloudera Manager API endpoints, implementing strict authentication and authorization mechanisms, and conducting regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns to log files, and organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests targeting the vulnerable API endpoints. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce any regressions in functionality while maintaining the security improvements. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and address similar information disclosure vulnerabilities in the broader infrastructure, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.