CVE-2017-7530 in CloudForms Management Engine
Summary
by MITRE
In CloudForms Management Engine (cfme) before 5.7.3 and 5.8.x before 5.8.1, it was found that privilege check is missing when invoking arbitrary methods via filtering on VMs that MiqExpression will execute that is triggerable by API users. An attacker could use this to execute actions they should not be allowed to (e.g. destroying VMs).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2023
The CloudForms Management Engine vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7530 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw that affects versions prior to 5.7.3 and 5.8.1. This vulnerability stems from insufficient privilege validation within the MiqExpression framework, which is responsible for processing filtering operations on virtual machines. The issue manifests when API users can manipulate expression-based filtering mechanisms to invoke arbitrary methods that should normally be restricted to authorized administrators only. The vulnerability exists within the core expression evaluation system that processes user inputs for VM filtering operations, creating a pathway for unauthorized execution of privileged commands.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the MiqExpression parsing engine, which processes user-supplied expressions for filtering virtual machine data. When users submit filtering parameters through the API, the system evaluates these expressions without proper authorization checks, allowing malicious actors to craft expressions that trigger unintended method invocations. This flaw specifically impacts the privilege validation mechanism that should normally verify whether an API user possesses sufficient permissions to execute destructive operations on virtual machines. The vulnerability enables attackers to escalate privileges and execute operations such as VM destruction, data deletion, or system modifications that should be restricted to authorized administrators only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, creating significant risks for cloud infrastructure management environments. Organizations utilizing CloudForms Management Engine versions affected by this vulnerability face potential data loss, system compromise, and unauthorized access to critical virtualized environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized control over virtual machine operations, potentially leading to service disruption, data exfiltration, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the platform, as it undermines the principle of least privilege by allowing unauthorized users to execute administrative functions through seemingly benign API filtering operations. This creates a persistent risk for organizations that rely on CloudForms for their virtual infrastructure management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7530 focus on implementing proper input validation and privilege checking mechanisms within the MiqExpression framework. Organizations should immediately upgrade to CloudForms Management Engine versions 5.7.3 or 5.8.1, which contain the necessary security patches to address the authorization bypass. Additionally, administrators should implement network segmentation and API access controls to limit exposure, while monitoring for suspicious API activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. Security teams should also consider implementing additional logging and audit controls to detect unauthorized privilege escalation attempts, as this vulnerability can be exploited through legitimate API interfaces without obvious signs of compromise. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as privilege escalation through API manipulation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive access control validation at all interface points within the management engine.