CVE-2017-2653 in CloudForms
Summary
by MITRE
A number of unused delete routes are present in CloudForms before 5.7.2.1 which can be accessed via GET requests instead of just POST requests. This could allow an attacker to bypass the protect_from_forgery XSRF protection causing the routes to be used. This attack would require additional cross-site scripting or similar attacks in order to execute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-2653 represents a significant security flaw in CloudForms management platform versions prior to 5.7.2.1. This issue stems from improper implementation of web application security controls, specifically around the handling of delete operations within the application's routing architecture. The flaw manifests as the presence of unused delete routes that are inadvertently exposed and accessible through GET requests rather than being properly restricted to POST requests only. This misconfiguration creates an avenue for attackers to exploit the application's cross-site request forgery protection mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-346, which addresses "Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature", and more specifically relates to improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized operations to be performed through unexpected request methods. The root cause lies in the application's failure to properly validate request methods for destructive operations, creating a pathway where GET requests can be used to trigger delete functionality that should only be executable via POST requests. This design flaw effectively undermines the application's built-in CSRF protection mechanisms, as the security controls were not properly enforced for all possible request methods.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a dangerous attack surface that requires additional exploitation techniques to be effective. An attacker would need to first establish a cross-site scripting vulnerability or similar attack vector to successfully leverage this weakness, making it a chained attack scenario rather than a standalone exploit. The attack would involve crafting malicious requests that leverage the exposed GET routes to perform unauthorized delete operations within the CloudForms environment. This requires a sophisticated attack approach where the initial XSS vulnerability serves as the delivery mechanism for the malicious GET requests that trigger the vulnerable delete routes.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data deletion, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture. Organizations using CloudForms versions before 5.7.2.1 face potential unauthorized access to critical management functions, which could lead to data loss, service disruption, and unauthorized modifications to the management platform. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and request method enforcement in web applications, as the flaw demonstrates how improper route handling can create unexpected access paths. Security teams should consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual GET requests targeting delete operations and ensure that all destructive operations are properly restricted to appropriate HTTP methods.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on upgrading to CloudForms version 5.7.2.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the improper route handling. Organizations should also implement comprehensive security testing that includes reviewing all application routes for proper HTTP method restrictions and ensure that CSRF protection mechanisms are properly configured across all operations. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and request method checking at the application level can help prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of the system. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper access control implementation and the need for regular security assessments to identify and remediate such configuration flaws.