CVE-2017-8048 in Cloud Foundry
Summary
by MITRE
In Cloud Foundry capi-release versions 1.33.0 and later, prior to 1.42.0 and cf-release versions 268 and later, prior to 274, the original fix for CVE-2017-8033 introduces an API regression that allows a space developer to execute arbitrary code on the Cloud Controller VM by pushing a specially crafted application. NOTE: 274 resolves the vulnerability but has a serious bug that is fixed in 275.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-8048 represents a critical security flaw in Cloud Foundry's Cloud Application Programming Interface release versions that affected users of both capi-release and cf-release frameworks. This issue emerged as a regression within the originally patched implementation of CVE-2017-8033, demonstrating how security fixes can sometimes introduce new vulnerabilities through incomplete remediation processes. The flaw specifically targeted the Cloud Controller VM environment where applications are deployed, creating a pathway for unauthorized code execution that bypassed normal access controls and privilege boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a flawed authorization check within the application push functionality of Cloud Foundry's API endpoints. When space developers attempted to push applications using specially crafted payloads, the system failed to properly validate the application metadata against the user's authorization level. This regression allowed maliciously constructed application manifests or code packages to be processed in a way that elevated privileges beyond what was intended for space developers, effectively granting them root-level access to execute arbitrary code on the underlying Cloud Controller VM. The vulnerability exploited a weakness in the input validation mechanism that should have prevented such privilege escalation scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8048 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of Cloud Foundry's multi-tenant architecture. Space developers who should only have permissions to deploy and manage applications within their designated spaces could potentially gain complete control over the Cloud Controller VM, enabling them to access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or even compromise other tenants' applications. This vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Cloud Foundry for application deployment, as it essentially allows for lateral movement and privilege escalation within the platform's infrastructure, making it particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the recommended patch updates to cf-release version 275, which properly addresses the regression introduced in version 274. The remediation process requires careful coordination between platform administrators and development teams to ensure that all instances of the vulnerable software are updated and that proper testing is conducted to validate the fix. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their Cloud Foundry environments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized code execution attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a specific implementation of the broader category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities that fall under ATT&CK technique T1068, which focuses on exploit for privilege escalation.
The remediation strategy should also include implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation, API rate limiting, and enhanced monitoring of application deployment activities. Organizations should review their Cloud Foundry deployment configurations to ensure that proper isolation mechanisms are in place between different user spaces and that audit logging is enabled to track all application push activities. Given the nature of this vulnerability, which specifically targets the Cloud Controller's application handling capabilities, security teams should also consider implementing automated scanning tools that can detect potentially malicious application packages before they are deployed into the platform. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of thorough regression testing in security patches and the necessity of maintaining detailed change management processes when implementing updates to critical infrastructure components.