CVE-2017-8035 in Cloud Foundry
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in the Cloud Controller API in Cloud Foundry Foundation CAPI-release versions after v1.6.0 and prior to v1.35.0 and cf-release versions after v244 and prior to v268. A carefully crafted CAPI request from a Space Developer can allow them to gain access to files on the Cloud Controller VM for that installation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2017-8035 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Cloud Controller API of Cloud Foundry's CAPI-release system. This issue affects installations where the CAPI-release version falls between v1.6.0 and v1.35.0, while also impacting cf-release versions from v244 through v267. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the API's file handling processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit their position as Space Developers. The Cloud Controller API serves as the central management interface for Cloud Foundry deployments, controlling access to application resources, user permissions, and system configurations, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on Cloud Foundry's platform as a service architecture.
The technical flaw manifests through a specific request manipulation technique that allows a Space Developer to craft malicious API requests capable of bypassing normal file access restrictions. Space Developers typically possess limited permissions within Cloud Foundry environments, including the ability to manage applications and services within their designated spaces. However, this vulnerability enables them to escalate their privileges by exploiting improper validation of file paths and access parameters in API requests. The flaw operates by manipulating the way the Cloud Controller processes file-related API calls, potentially allowing attackers to traverse directory structures and access sensitive files on the underlying virtual machine. This represents a classic path traversal vulnerability that violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the fundamental security boundaries established by Cloud Foundry's role-based access control system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8035 extends far beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can enable attackers to extract sensitive configuration data, application credentials, and potentially system-level information that could facilitate further attacks. Organizations using Cloud Foundry deployments are at risk of data breaches, system compromise, and regulatory violations if attackers exploit this vulnerability. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only a Space Developer account, which is often more accessible than administrative privileges, making the vulnerability exploitable by insiders or compromised users with relatively low-level access. This vulnerability can result in the exposure of database connection strings, encryption keys, application secrets, and other sensitive information that could be leveraged for lateral movement within the cloud infrastructure or for external attacks against other systems. The impact is further compounded by the fact that Cloud Foundry deployments often serve as foundational platforms for enterprise applications, making the potential damage scale significantly across organizational boundaries.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of CAPI-release v1.35.0 and cf-release v268 or later, which contain the necessary security fixes to prevent the path traversal exploitation. Additionally, administrators should review and tighten access controls for Space Developer roles, implementing additional monitoring of API requests for suspicious patterns and establishing network-level restrictions that limit direct VM access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-79 Cross-Site Scripting categories, representing a combination of directory traversal and improper input validation issues that violate the principle of input sanitization. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and credential access phases, as attackers can leverage it to gain access to sensitive system information and potentially escalate their privileges further within the environment. Security teams should also consider implementing comprehensive logging and monitoring solutions to detect anomalous API behavior patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's impact is significant enough to warrant proactive defensive measures including network segmentation and regular security audits of Cloud Foundry deployments.