CVE-2017-7565 in Hadoop Connect App
Summary
by MITRE
Splunk Hadoop Connect App has a path traversal vulnerability that allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code, aka ERP-2041.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2020
The CVE-2017-7565 vulnerability resides within the Splunk Hadoop Connect App, a component designed to facilitate integration between Splunk and Hadoop environments for log aggregation and analysis. This application serves as a bridge enabling organizations to collect and process data from distributed Hadoop clusters through Splunk's powerful analytics platform. The vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw that affects the app's handling of user-supplied input when processing file paths, creating a dangerous attack surface for authenticated users who can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper validation and sanitization of file path parameters within the Splunk Hadoop Connect App. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious input that manipulates the application's file handling routines to traverse directories beyond the intended scope. This path traversal vulnerability allows attackers to access files and directories that should normally be restricted, potentially enabling them to read sensitive configuration files, modify application components, or execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the Splunk service account. The vulnerability specifically affects the app's ability to process user-provided file paths without adequate input validation, creating opportunities for directory traversal attacks that can escalate to full system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7565 extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to the Splunk environment and potentially move laterally within the network. Since the vulnerability requires only authenticated access, it can be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts, making detection more challenging. The attack surface includes the ability to read sensitive data from the Hadoop cluster, modify log processing configurations, or even install backdoors for continued access. Organizations using Splunk Hadoop Connect App are particularly vulnerable because the attack can leverage the legitimate administrative functions of the application to gain elevated privileges and access to the underlying Hadoop infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7565 should prioritize immediate patching of the Splunk Hadoop Connect App to the latest version that addresses the path traversal vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to Splunk environments and restrict the privileges of accounts used to access the Hadoop Connect App. The principle of least privilege must be enforced by ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the application, and that these accounts operate with minimal necessary permissions. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous file access patterns or command execution attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Splunk environments to identify any other potentially vulnerable applications or configurations that may present similar attack vectors. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques such as T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1078 Valid Accounts for lateral movement and persistence.