CVE-2017-2672 in Foreman
Summary
by MITRE
A flaw was found in foreman before version 1.15 in the logging of adding and registering images. An attacker with access to the foreman log file would be able to view passwords for provisioned systems in the log file, allowing them to access those systems.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2672 represents a critical security flaw in the Foreman management platform, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.15. This issue stems from inadequate logging practices during the image provisioning and registration processes, creating a significant information disclosure risk. Foreman, a popular open-source tool for provisioning and managing IT infrastructure, was found to log sensitive authentication credentials in plain text within its log files, exposing systems to unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the image registration and provisioning workflows where Foreman fails to sanitize or redact password information before writing it to log files. This flaw falls under the category of improper logging and monitoring practices, specifically aligning with CWE-200 - Information Exposure and CWE-532 - Information Exposure Through Log Files. The logging mechanism does not properly filter or escape sensitive data, resulting in clear-text passwords being stored in accessible log files that could be read by unauthorized users with access to the system's logging infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker who gains access to Foreman's log files can directly extract authentication credentials for provisioned systems, enabling them to establish unauthorized access to those systems. This creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to maintain access and escalate privileges within the managed infrastructure. The vulnerability effectively undermines the security model of the provisioning system, as it transforms legitimate administrative logging into a vector for credential theft. Attackers could leverage this access to perform lateral movement, escalate privileges, or conduct further reconnaissance within the network environment.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output sanitization in logging systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1070.002 - Indicator Removal on Host. The flaw also relates to privilege escalation and credential access patterns documented in ATT&CK matrix, specifically targeting the credential access phase where adversaries seek to obtain valid credentials for system access. Organizations using Foreman should implement immediate mitigations including log file access controls, credential sanitization in logs, and regular log file audits. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to Foreman version 1.15 or later, which includes proper logging sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should review and restrict access to log files, implement log rotation with sensitive data removal, and consider implementing centralized logging solutions with appropriate filtering and access controls to prevent similar issues in other systems.