CVE-2017-7470 in spacewalk-channel
Summary
by MITRE
It was found that spacewalk-channel can be used by a non-admin user or disabled users to perform administrative tasks due to an incorrect authorization check in backend/server/rhnChannel.py.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7470 resides within the Spacewalk server software, specifically in the backend component responsible for channel management. This flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that allows unauthorized users to execute administrative operations through the spacewalk-channel utility. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access control validation within the file backend/server/rhnChannel.py, where the system fails to properly verify user privileges before permitting channel-related administrative actions. This misconfiguration creates a pathway for privilege escalation where individuals lacking proper administrative credentials can manipulate system channels and potentially access restricted functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in the authorization checking mechanism that governs user access to channel management functions. When spacewalk-channel is invoked by a non-administrative user or a disabled user account, the system should reject the request based on insufficient permissions. However, due to the inadequate authorization check in the rhnChannel.py module, these users can successfully execute administrative tasks that should be restricted to authorized administrators only. The flaw likely manifests through improper validation of user roles, session tokens, or access control lists that should normally prevent unauthorized access to channel modification operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate system configurations, modify channel subscriptions, and access sensitive system information. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to system resources, modify channel repositories, or perform other administrative functions that could compromise system integrity and availability. The vulnerability affects the core channel management functionality of Spacewalk, which is used for managing software channels and distributing updates across enterprise environments. This presents a significant risk to organizations that rely on Spacewalk for system administration and software distribution management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7470 should focus on implementing proper authorization checks and access controls within the Spacewalk backend components. Organizations should ensure that all administrative functions in the rhnChannel.py module require proper authentication and authorization validation before executing any privileged operations. The fix should involve strengthening the access control mechanisms to verify user credentials and roles against defined administrative privileges before allowing channel management operations. Additionally, regular access control audits should be performed to identify and remediate similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unauthorized administrative access attempts to detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability.