CVE-2016-6815 in Ranger
Summary
by MITRE
In Apache Ranger before 0.6.2, users with "keyadmin" role should not be allowed to change password for users with "admin" role.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6815 affects Apache Ranger versions prior to 062, exposing a critical access control flaw in the privilege management system. This issue stems from insufficient role-based access control (RBAC) implementation where users assigned with the keyadmin role can manipulate user accounts possessing the admin role, creating an unauthorized privilege escalation vector. The flaw fundamentally undermines the principle of least privilege by allowing users with limited administrative capabilities to modify accounts with elevated permissions, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries between different administrative tiers.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper enforcement of role hierarchies within Apache Ranger's access control mechanisms. When a user possesses the keyadmin role, they should be restricted from performing administrative operations on accounts that have higher privilege levels such as admin users. The system fails to properly validate the role relationships and access boundaries, allowing cross-role privilege manipulation. This represents a classic violation of the principle of separation of duties and directly relates to CWE-285 which addresses insufficient authorization checks within access control systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables malicious actors or compromised keyadmin accounts to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. An attacker who compromises a keyadmin account could potentially escalate privileges by changing passwords for admin users, thereby gaining full administrative control over the Ranger system and potentially the underlying data resources it protects. This vulnerability creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks that could lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized data access. The flaw exists in the authorization enforcement layer rather than the authentication mechanism, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to operate within the legitimate administrative framework while performing unauthorized actions.
Organizations using Apache Ranger versions prior to 062 should immediately implement the available patch that addresses this access control flaw. The remediation involves strengthening the role-based access control validation to properly enforce the separation between keyadmin and admin roles. Security administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of existing user assignments to ensure no keyadmin users have been granted access to admin accounts. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized password changes for high-privilege accounts can provide early warning capabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to administrative functions, making it a critical concern for organizations implementing centralized access management systems. The fix should be prioritized as part of routine security maintenance to prevent potential exploitation and maintain the integrity of the access control framework.