CVE-2017-12191 in CloudForms
Summary
by MITRE
A flaw was found in the CloudForms account configuration when using VMware. By default, a shared account is used that has privileged access to VMRC (VMWare Remote Console) functions that may not be appropriate for users of CloudForms (and thus this account). An attacker could use this vulnerability to view and make changes to settings in the VMRC and virtual machines controlled by it that they should not have access to.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12191 represents a critical privilege escalation issue within the CloudForms management platform when integrated with VMware virtualization environments. This flaw stems from the default configuration approach where CloudForms employs a shared administrative account that possesses extensive privileges within the VMware Remote Console functionality. The security implications extend beyond simple access control violations as this shared account maintains elevated permissions that should be restricted to authorized administrative personnel only. The vulnerability specifically affects the VMware Remote Console (VMRC) functions that enable remote access to virtual machine operations and management interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the account configuration management within CloudForms' integration layer with VMware systems. When CloudForms connects to VMware environments, it utilizes a default shared account that has been pre-configured with broad privileges necessary for VMRC operations. This shared account model creates a significant security risk because it eliminates proper access control boundaries between different user roles within the CloudForms environment. The flaw manifests when unauthorized users gain access to the CloudForms interface and can leverage the shared account credentials to execute privileged operations within the VMRC context. This represents a classic case of insufficient privilege separation and inadequate role-based access control implementation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-12191 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access scenarios, as it enables attackers to perform modifications to critical virtual machine configurations and system settings. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate virtual machine properties, access sensitive configuration data, and potentially escalate privileges to gain broader access to the underlying VMware infrastructure. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates a persistent backdoor for malicious actors to maintain access while performing unauthorized modifications to virtual environments. The impact is particularly severe in multi-tenant cloud environments where isolation between different user groups is paramount for security.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials) while aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1548.001 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism). The shared account configuration pattern represents a well-known security anti-pattern that has been documented in numerous security frameworks and best practices. Organizations implementing CloudForms in VMware environments face significant risk exposure when this vulnerability remains unaddressed, as it provides attackers with a persistent means of accessing and manipulating virtual machine configurations. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper credential management and the dangers of hard-coded or shared administrative accounts in cloud management platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12191 require immediate implementation of proper account management procedures within CloudForms environments. Organizations should establish unique, role-based accounts for each CloudForms user with appropriate privilege levels rather than relying on shared administrative accounts. The configuration should enforce strict access controls and implement proper authentication mechanisms that prevent unauthorized access to privileged functions. Regular security audits should verify that no hard-coded credentials exist within CloudForms configurations, and privileged accounts should be regularly rotated. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts to VMRC functions, while implementing proper logging and alerting mechanisms that can identify suspicious activities within the CloudForms management interface.