CVE-2016-9185 in Heat
Summary
by MITRE
In OpenStack Heat, by launching a new Heat stack with a local URL an authenticated user may conduct network discovery revealing internal network configuration. Affected versions are <=5.0.3, >=6.0.0 <=6.1.0, and ==7.0.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9185 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within the OpenStack Heat service that enables authenticated users to perform network discovery attacks against internal infrastructure. This vulnerability specifically affects versions of OpenStack Heat that are less than or equal to 5.0.3, versions between 6.0.0 and 6.1.0, and the exact version 7.0.0. The flaw stems from improper handling of local URLs during stack creation processes, creating an avenue for malicious actors to enumerate internal network configurations through legitimate service interactions.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the manipulation of local URL references within Heat stack templates, allowing authenticated users to craft stack deployments that can traverse internal network boundaries. When a user launches a new Heat stack with a local URL, the system fails to properly validate or restrict access to internal network resources, enabling the exploitation of internal network discovery mechanisms. This behavior aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure vulnerabilities, and represents a specific implementation flaw where access controls are insufficiently enforced during resource resolution operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with detailed insights into internal network topology, including subnet configurations, routing patterns, and potentially sensitive network device information. This intelligence can be leveraged by threat actors to plan more sophisticated attacks, including lateral movement within the network, targeted exploitation of internal services, and identification of critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability particularly affects cloud environments where OpenStack Heat is used for orchestration, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of network isolation and access control.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service discovery and T1083 for file and directory discovery. The attack surface is particularly concerning in multi-tenant cloud environments where different users share the same infrastructure, as a single compromised account could potentially reveal network configurations across the entire deployment. Organizations implementing OpenStack Heat services face significant risk if this vulnerability remains unpatched, as it could lead to comprehensive network reconnaissance that enables more advanced persistent threats.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of affected OpenStack Heat versions to the latest stable releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls that limit the scope of local URL resolution capabilities within Heat templates. Additional protective measures include monitoring for unusual stack creation patterns, implementing stricter validation of URL references in orchestration templates, and ensuring that internal network resources are properly isolated from user-accessible components. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based detection mechanisms that can identify anomalous traffic patterns indicative of network discovery activities.