CVE-2017-7677 in Ranger
Summary
by MITRE
In environments that use external location for hive tables, Hive Authorizer in Apache Ranger before 0.7.1 should be checking RWX permission for create table.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7677 affects Apache Ranger versions prior to 0.7.1 and specifically targets the Hive Authorizer component within Ranger's access control framework. This issue manifests in environments where Hive tables are stored in external locations, creating a significant gap in the authorization mechanism that governs table creation operations. The flaw stems from an incomplete implementation of permission checking that fails to enforce proper read-write-execute (RWX) permissions when users attempt to create new tables in external storage locations.
The technical root cause lies in the insufficient validation of user privileges during the table creation process within Ranger's Hive Authorizer module. When users attempt to create tables in external locations, the system should verify that they possess the appropriate RWX permissions to perform these operations. However, the vulnerability allows unauthorized users to bypass this critical permission check, potentially enabling them to create tables in locations where they should not have the necessary access rights. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where the authorization system fails to properly enforce access controls at the table creation level.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized table creation, as it can enable attackers to manipulate data storage locations and potentially introduce malicious table structures into external storage systems. Attackers could leverage this weakness to create tables in locations they do not legitimately own or control, potentially leading to data leakage, unauthorized data processing, or the establishment of persistent access points within the data infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on external storage solutions for their Hive table deployments, where proper segregation of data access is critical for maintaining data security and compliance requirements.
Organizations utilizing Apache Ranger for Hive access control should immediately upgrade to version 0.7.1 or later to remediate this vulnerability. The fix implemented in Ranger 0.7.1 addresses the missing permission checks by ensuring that proper RWX validation occurs during table creation operations in external storage locations. Security administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of their Ranger configurations to verify that all external Hive table locations properly enforce the appropriate access controls. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and represents a specific instance of inadequate authorization checks in distributed data processing environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, where adversaries exploit weak access controls to gain elevated permissions within data processing systems.
Additional mitigation strategies include implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to external storage locations, establishing regular monitoring of table creation activities, and ensuring that all external Hive table locations have proper access control policies defined. Organizations should also consider implementing data loss prevention measures to detect unauthorized table creation activities and maintain detailed audit logs of all Hive table operations for forensic analysis purposes. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of comprehensive access control validation in distributed data processing frameworks where multiple storage locations and access patterns exist within the same system infrastructure.