CVE-2016-6829 in Openstack Deployment
Summary
by MITRE
The trove service user in (1) Openstack deployment (aka crowbar-openstack) and (2) Trove Barclamp (aka barclamp-trove and crowbar-barclamp-trove) in the Crowbar Framework has a default password, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-6829 represents a critical default credential weakness affecting the Trove service user within OpenStack deployments managed through the Crowbar Framework. This issue specifically impacts two distinct deployment components: the OpenStack deployment framework known as crowbar-openstack and the Trove Barclamp implementation referred to as barclamp-trove or crowbar-barclamp-trove. The flaw stems from the inclusion of hardcoded default passwords for the Trove service user account, creating an exploitable condition that significantly weakens the security posture of affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which categorizes the use of hard-coded credentials as a severe security flaw. When the Crowbar Framework deploys OpenStack environments with Trove service components, it automatically configures the Trove service user with a predetermined password that remains unchanged across deployments. This default credential configuration allows unauthorized actors to gain access to the Trove service without requiring additional authentication factors or complex attack vectors. The unspecified attack vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability could be exploited through various means including network reconnaissance, service enumeration, or direct credential brute force attempts.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for cloud infrastructure deployments utilizing the Crowbar Framework. The Trove service in OpenStack provides database-as-a-service functionality, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to compromise database workloads and potentially escalate privileges to access other system components. The default password exposure enables remote attackers to establish unauthorized access to database management services, potentially leading to data exfiltration, service disruption, or further lateral movement within the cloud environment. The ease of exploitation means that even unskilled attackers can leverage this weakness without requiring specialized tools or extensive knowledge of the target system.
The security implications extend beyond simple credential compromise, as this vulnerability demonstrates poor security hygiene in automated deployment frameworks. The presence of default credentials in production environments violates fundamental security principles and represents a failure in proper configuration management. Attackers can exploit this weakness as part of initial access techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the initial access category, specifically targeting credential dumping and default credentials as entry points. Organizations deploying OpenStack through Crowbar Framework must recognize that this vulnerability can serve as a gateway for more sophisticated attacks, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6829 require immediate action to address the hardcoded default credentials. System administrators should immediately change the default password for the Trove service user account to a strong, unique credential that meets enterprise security requirements. The recommended approach involves implementing proper credential management practices including the use of secure password generators, regular credential rotation policies, and integration with enterprise identity management systems. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive audits of their deployment configurations to identify any other hardcoded credentials or weak authentication mechanisms that may exist within their Crowbar Framework implementations. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit the potential impact of credential compromise, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unauthorized access attempts to service accounts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper configuration management and the elimination of default credentials in automated deployment environments, aligning with security best practices outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for secure system configuration.