CVE-2017-7400 in horizon
Summary
by MITRE
OpenStack Horizon 9.x through 9.1.1, 10.x through 10.0.2, and 11.0.0 allows remote authenticated administrators to conduct XSS attacks via a crafted federation mapping.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
OpenStack Horizon represents a web-based dashboard interface for managing OpenStack cloud environments, serving as a critical administrative portal for cloud operators and users. The vulnerability CVE-2017-7400 specifically targets the federation mapping functionality within Horizon, which enables single sign-on capabilities for federated identity management. This flaw affects versions 9.x through 9.1.1, 10.x through 10.0.2, and 11.0.0, indicating a widespread impact across multiple release branches of the platform. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the federation mapping configuration process, creating a persistent cross-site scripting attack vector that can be exploited by authenticated administrators.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of federation mapping parameters, where maliciously crafted input can be injected into the system's configuration handling mechanisms. When an authenticated administrator interacts with the federation mapping interface, the improperly sanitized input gets processed and rendered back to the user interface without adequate output encoding or validation. This creates a classic cross-site scripting scenario where the malicious payload executes within the context of the victim administrator's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker who has already gained administrative credentials can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the browser of other administrators.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7400 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, and potentially gain unauthorized access to cloud resources. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to perform session hijacking attacks, where stolen authentication tokens allow them to impersonate legitimate administrators and perform unauthorized operations within the OpenStack environment. The attack can also facilitate data exfiltration, configuration manipulation, and privilege escalation within the cloud infrastructure. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Initial Access' and 'Persistence' phases, specifically targeting credential access and privilege escalation tactics. The vulnerability maps to CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting flaws, and demonstrates how authentication bypass mechanisms can be exploited to create persistent attack vectors within cloud management interfaces.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of OpenStack Horizon should prioritize immediate patching and mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach includes applying the official security patches released by the OpenStack community, which typically involve implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the federation mapping processing code. Additional mitigations should include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, conducting regular security audits of administrative interfaces, and establishing strict access controls and monitoring for administrative activities. Network segmentation and least-privilege principles should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while regular security training for administrators can help identify suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect similar XSS patterns within their cloud management interfaces to prevent future incidents.