CVE-2016-8751 in Ranger
Summary
by MITRE
Apache Ranger before 0.6.is vulnerable to a Stored Cross-Site Scripting in when entering custom policy conditions. Admin users can store some arbitrary javascript code to be executed when normal users login and access policies.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2019
Apache Ranger version 0.6.0 and earlier contains a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows authenticated administrators to inject malicious javascript code into policy conditions. This vulnerability resides in the custom policy condition handling functionality where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being stored in the system. The flaw enables attackers with administrative privileges to craft malicious payloads that persist within the policy framework and execute automatically when other users access policy information. The vulnerability specifically affects the web interface where administrators define custom conditions for access control policies, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise multiple user sessions. When normal users navigate to policy pages or interact with the administrative interface, the stored javascript code executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user accounts. This represents a classic stored XSS vulnerability classified under CWE-079, which occurs when web applications fail to properly escape or validate user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web pages. The attack vector requires an attacker to already possess administrative credentials, making this a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be leveraged for lateral movement within the system. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as the malicious code can access sensitive session information, modify user interface elements, or redirect users to malicious domains. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability undermines the security posture of organizations relying on Apache Ranger for access control management, as it allows attackers to establish persistent footholds within the access control infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the policy management system and can be exploited to create backdoors or exfiltrate sensitive data through the compromised user sessions. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as input validation, output encoding, and privilege separation to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and command and control techniques, where attackers leverage administrative access to establish persistent access and maintain control over compromised systems. Mitigation strategies include upgrading to Apache Ranger 0.6.1 or later versions, implementing proper input sanitization, and monitoring administrative activities for suspicious policy modifications. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict access controls and regularly audit policy configurations to detect unauthorized modifications that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of validating all user inputs within web applications and highlights the critical nature of access control systems in maintaining overall security hygiene. Security teams should prioritize patch management for this vulnerability and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.