CVE-2017-2662 in Katello Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
A flaw was found in Foreman's katello plugin version 3.4.5. After setting a new role to allow restricted access on a repository with a filter (filter set on the Product Name), the filter is not respected when the actions are done via hammer using the repository id.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2662 represents a critical access control flaw within Foreman's Katello plugin ecosystem, specifically impacting version 3.4.5 and potentially other related versions. This issue manifests as a privilege escalation vector that undermines the intended security model of repository access controls. The flaw occurs within the Katello plugin's repository filtering mechanism, which is designed to enforce restricted access based on product name filters. When administrators configure new roles with specific repository access permissions, the system fails to properly validate these restrictions during hammer CLI operations that utilize repository IDs rather than product names. This discrepancy creates a pathway for unauthorized users to bypass established access controls and gain access to repositories they should not be permitted to view or modify.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a fundamental inconsistency in how Foreman's Katello plugin processes access control checks. When repository filters are configured based on product names, the system correctly enforces these restrictions for standard user interactions and API calls that reference products by name. However, the hammer CLI interface, which operates using repository IDs as identifiers, bypasses the proper access validation mechanism that should be applied to these specific repository references. This creates a security gap where the filter logic designed to restrict access to specific products becomes ineffective when repository-level operations are performed through the hammer command line tool. The underlying architecture fails to maintain consistent access control enforcement across different operational interfaces, allowing authenticated users with appropriate role assignments to circumvent the intended filtering mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data exposure and system integrity compromise. An attacker with access to the hammer CLI interface and appropriate role assignments could potentially access repositories belonging to different products, thereby gaining access to sensitive data, configuration information, or deployment artifacts that should remain restricted. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple product lines are managed within a single Foreman instance, as it allows cross-contamination of repository access between different product groups. The security implications become more severe in multi-tenant environments where proper segregation of access controls is essential for maintaining data isolation and compliance requirements. Organizations relying on Katello's repository filtering for compliance purposes may find their security posture significantly weakened by this flaw.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2662 should focus on immediate remediation through version updates to Foreman and Katello components, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control reviews to identify and validate all repository access rules, ensuring that the filtering mechanisms are properly enforced across all operational interfaces. The use of additional monitoring and logging controls around hammer CLI operations can help detect unauthorized access attempts and provide audit trails for security investigations. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level restrictions and authentication controls to limit access to hammer CLI interfaces, particularly for users who do not require direct repository management capabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it exploits legitimate user privileges to gain unauthorized access to restricted resources. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege configurations and regular security assessments to prevent similar access control bypass vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of their infrastructure.