CVE-2017-7497 in CloudForms
Summary
by MITRE
The dialog for creating cloud volumes (cinder provider) in CloudForms does not filter cloud tenants by user. An attacker with the ability to create storage volumes could use this to create storage volumes for any other tenant.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7497 resides within the CloudForms management platform's cloud volume creation functionality, specifically affecting the cinder provider implementation. This flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that undermines the fundamental multi-tenancy security model of cloud environments. The vulnerability manifests in the dialog interface responsible for creating cloud volumes, where proper tenant filtering mechanisms fail to validate user permissions against available tenant resources. This technical oversight creates a pathway for unauthorized privilege escalation and resource manipulation within cloud infrastructure deployments.
The core technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and access control enforcement within the CloudForms user interface layer. When administrators or authorized users attempt to create storage volumes through the cinder provider dialog, the system fails to implement proper tenant isolation checks. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically affects the user authentication and authorization processes that should prevent users from accessing or creating resources belonging to other tenants. The flaw aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and demonstrates how insufficient access control mechanisms can lead to severe security implications in multi-tenant environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data exposure, resource consumption abuse, and service disruption within cloud infrastructures. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could create storage volumes in any tenant's namespace, potentially leading to unauthorized resource consumption, billing discrepancies, and compromise of tenant data isolation. The attack vector requires minimal privileges since the attacker only needs the ability to create storage volumes, which is typically less restricted than administrative privileges. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users with relatively limited access rights within the cloud environment.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including enforcing strict tenant isolation policies, implementing comprehensive access control lists, and conducting regular security assessments of cloud management interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security standards. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unauthorized volume creation activities, and establishing robust audit trails for cloud resource operations. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining proper multi-tenancy boundaries in cloud computing environments and the necessity of thorough security testing for all user interface components that handle resource allocation and management functions.