CVE-2017-3161 in Hadoop
Summary
by MITRE
The HDFS web UI in Apache Hadoop before 2.7.0 is vulnerable to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack through an unescaped query parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3161 affects the Hadoop Distributed File System web user interface in Apache Hadoop versions prior to 2.7.0. This represents a critical security flaw that allows attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability specifically resides in how the HDFS web UI handles query parameters, creating an avenue for cross-site scripting attacks that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data within the distributed computing environment.
The technical flaw manifests through improper input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the HDFS web interface. When users navigate to certain endpoints within the web UI and provide unescaped query parameters, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs before rendering them in the browser context. This creates an XSS vulnerability where malicious actors can inject script code through crafted URLs that contain malicious payloads in query string parameters. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 which covers exploitation of vulnerabilities through web-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution within browser contexts. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal user sessions, access sensitive cluster information, manipulate data through the web interface, and potentially escalate privileges within the Hadoop ecosystem. In enterprise environments where Hadoop clusters process sensitive data, this vulnerability could enable unauthorized access to large datasets, compromise data integrity, and provide attackers with a foothold for further reconnaissance and lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The affected versions represent a significant risk as they were widely deployed in production environments across various industries.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3161 involve immediate upgrades to Apache Hadoop versions 2.7.0 and later, which include proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious query parameters, regular security scanning of web interfaces, and comprehensive input validation policies. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit exposure of vulnerable web interfaces, while security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through log analysis and intrusion detection systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and proper input validation practices in distributed computing environments where multiple users interact with web-based management interfaces.