CVE-2017-4975 in PCF Tile Generator
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Pivotal PCF Tile Generator versions prior to 6.0.0. Tiles created by the PCF Tile Generator create a running open security group that overrides security groups set by the operator.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-4975 affects Pivotal PCF Tile Generator versions prior to 6.0.0, presenting a critical security flaw within cloud infrastructure deployment mechanisms. This issue manifests through the improper handling of security group configurations during tile creation processes, fundamentally compromising network security policies that should be enforced by platform operators. The flaw exists in the way the tile generator manages security group definitions, creating a scenario where automatically generated tiles establish open security groups that override existing operator-defined security policies. This represents a significant deviation from secure by default principles and violates fundamental security separation concepts that should maintain clear boundaries between different security domains within cloud environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the PCF Tile Generator's failure to properly respect or integrate with existing security group configurations established by platform operators. When tiles are generated using affected versions, the system automatically creates running open security groups that take precedence over any security policies previously configured by operators. This behavior directly contradicts the principle of least privilege and creates an attack surface where unauthorized network access can occur. The vulnerability operates at the configuration management level, where the tile generation process does not properly validate or respect existing security group boundaries, essentially allowing the tile generator to override security controls that are critical for maintaining network isolation and access control. This flaw aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing improper access control mechanisms where system components fail to properly enforce security policies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network access issues to encompass broader security governance and compliance concerns within cloud environments. Platform operators who rely on security groups to control network traffic and isolate applications face significant risks when this vulnerability is present, as it essentially nullifies their security configurations. The override behavior creates persistent security gaps that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to network resources, potentially leading to data breaches, lateral movement within networks, and compromise of sensitive infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using Pivotal Cloud Foundry environments where security group management is critical for maintaining compliance with industry standards such as pci dss, hipaa, and iso 27001 requirements. The flaw essentially undermines the security architecture by allowing automated processes to bypass manual security controls that should be maintained by security operators.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to PCF Tile Generator version 6.0.0 or later, which resolves this vulnerability through proper security group handling mechanisms. Security groups should be reviewed and validated after any tile generation processes to ensure no unauthorized open security groups have been created. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous security group configurations, and access control policies should be regularly audited to verify proper enforcement of security boundaries. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper security group management in cloud environments and highlights the need for automated tools to respect existing security configurations rather than override them. This issue also reinforces the necessity of implementing proper configuration management practices and continuous security monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to security policies. Organizations should consider implementing additional controls such as privileged access management and regular security group audits to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of their cloud infrastructure. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that security group configurations are properly maintained and that no unintended open security groups are created during tile generation processes, aligning with the security best practices outlined in the mitre att&ck framework for cloud security operations.