CVE-2017-15103 in Heketi 5 Server
Summary
by MITRE
A security-check flaw was found in the way the Heketi 5 server API handled user requests. An authenticated Heketi user could send specially crafted requests to the Heketi server, resulting in remote command execution as the user running Heketi server and possibly privilege escalation.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15103 represents a critical security flaw within the Heketi storage management system that operates as a REST API server for GlusterFS distributed storage environments. This issue manifests as a command injection vulnerability that occurs during the processing of user requests through the Heketi server API. The flaw exists in the server's handling of input validation mechanisms, specifically when processing authenticated user requests that contain maliciously crafted parameters or data structures. Security researchers discovered that the system fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before executing operations, creating an environment where an authenticated attacker can manipulate the system's behavior through carefully constructed API calls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific flaw in the request processing pipeline where the Heketi server does not adequately validate or escape user input before using it in system commands or operations. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-77 and CWE-89 categories, which classify it as a command injection vulnerability and SQL injection respectively, though the primary concern here is command execution. When an authenticated user submits specially crafted requests, the system processes these inputs without proper sanitization, allowing the attacker to inject arbitrary commands that execute within the context of the Heketi server process. The execution context is particularly concerning as it runs with the privileges of the user account that started the Heketi service, potentially enabling privilege escalation if that account possesses elevated permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data exposure within storage environments. An authenticated attacker with access to the Heketi API can execute arbitrary commands on the storage management server, potentially leading to unauthorized access to storage volumes, modification of storage configurations, or even complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects environments where Heketi serves as the primary orchestration layer for GlusterFS clusters, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise storage infrastructures where multiple applications and services depend on the stability and security of the storage management system. Attackers could leverage this flaw to escalate privileges, access sensitive storage data, or disrupt storage operations, potentially causing significant business disruption and data loss.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15103 focus on immediate patching and access control improvements to prevent unauthorized API access. Organizations should prioritize applying the vendor-provided security patches that address the input validation flaws in the Heketi server API. Additionally, implementing robust network segmentation and access controls around the Heketi server can limit the attack surface by restricting API access to trusted sources only. The implementation of proper input validation mechanisms and parameter sanitization should be enforced throughout the application's request handling pipeline to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual API request patterns and command execution activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege for Heketi service accounts and regular security audits of storage management systems to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, highlighting the multi-stage nature of potential exploitation.