CVE-2017-15136 in Satellite
Summary
by MITRE
When registering and activating a new system with Red Hat Satellite 6 if the new systems hostname is then reset to the hostname of a previously registered system the previously registered system will lose access to updates including security updates.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2020
This vulnerability exists in Red Hat Satellite 6 systems management platform where the registration and activation process fails to properly handle hostname conflicts between new and existing systems. The flaw stems from inadequate validation mechanisms that allow a newly registered system to assume the hostname of a previously registered system without properly terminating the earlier system's access privileges. When this occurs, the original system loses its ability to receive updates and security patches from the Satellite server, creating a significant operational and security risk. The vulnerability is classified as a privilege escalation and access control failure that directly impacts system maintainability and security posture.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the Satellite server's system registration database where hostname entries are not properly validated against existing system records during the registration process. When a new system registers with a hostname that matches an existing registered system, the server fails to detect this conflict and instead assigns the new system to the existing hostname entry. This creates a race condition where the original system's access tokens and update permissions become invalid while the new system inherits the hostname identity. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285: Improper Authorization and CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function as it allows unauthorized access to system resources through hostname manipulation. The issue represents a failure in the satellite server's hostname uniqueness enforcement mechanism, which should have been implemented during the system registration workflow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it creates a situation where administrators lose visibility and control over previously registered systems. Security updates and patches stop flowing to affected systems, leaving them vulnerable to known exploits and threats. This creates an audit and compliance risk since organizations cannot guarantee that all their systems are receiving necessary security updates. The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors who might register a new system with an existing hostname to gain unauthorized access to system resources or to disrupt update processes for legitimate systems. This scenario directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to extended security exposure periods for affected systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper hostname validation during system registration and establishing automated monitoring for hostname conflicts. Organizations should configure the Satellite server to enforce strict hostname uniqueness rules and implement alerting mechanisms when duplicate hostnames are detected. The system should automatically reject registration attempts for hostnames that already exist in the system inventory. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Regular system audits should verify that all registered systems maintain proper update access and that no unauthorized hostname changes have occurred. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper system identity management and access control enforcement, which are fundamental requirements in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and align with ATT&CK technique T1078.004: Valid Accounts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the registration workflow to ensure that hostname conflicts are properly handled and that system access is maintained appropriately.