CVE-2016-5432 in Enterprise Virtualization
Summary
by MITRE
The ovirt-engine-provisiondb utility in Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization (RHEV) Engine 4.0 allows local users to obtain sensitive database provisioning information by reading log files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5432 resides within the ovirt-engine-provisiondb utility of Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization RHEV Engine version 4.0, representing a significant information disclosure flaw that compromises the security posture of virtualized environments. This utility is responsible for database provisioning tasks within the oVirt management platform, which serves as a critical component for managing virtual machines and infrastructure resources. The flaw manifests when the utility creates log files containing sensitive database provisioning information, including credentials, connection strings, and other confidential operational data that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the logging mechanism of the ovirt-engine-provisiondb utility. When the utility executes database provisioning operations, it generates log entries that inadvertently include sensitive information in plain text format. These log files are typically created with insufficient access controls, allowing local users with minimal privileges to read the contents without proper authentication or authorization checks. The flaw represents a violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor secure coding practices in handling sensitive data within application logs. This issue is classified under CWE-200, which specifically addresses Information Exposure, and aligns with the broader category of information disclosure vulnerabilities that undermine system confidentiality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information leakage, as it provides attackers with critical information that could facilitate further exploitation attempts within the virtualization environment. Local users who can access these log files gain access to database connection credentials and provisioning parameters that could potentially be used to establish unauthorized database connections, extract additional sensitive data, or escalate their privileges within the system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-tenant environments where multiple users share the same physical infrastructure, as it could enable one user to access another user's database provisioning information. This weakness could also support lateral movement attacks and privilege escalation attempts that align with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Information Discovery tactic.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5432 should focus on implementing proper access controls and secure logging practices within the oVirt environment. System administrators should immediately review and restrict file permissions on log directories to ensure that only authorized processes and users can access sensitive log files. The logging mechanism should be modified to sanitize sensitive information before writing to log files, implementing data masking or redaction techniques to prevent credential exposure. Organizations should also consider implementing centralized log management solutions with proper access controls and monitoring capabilities. Additionally, the Red Hat security advisory recommends updating to patched versions of RHEV Engine 4.0 that address this specific vulnerability. Regular security audits of log file contents and access controls should be conducted to prevent similar issues from emerging in other components of the virtualization infrastructure, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards for information security management.