CVE-2017-8135 in FusionSphere OpenStack
Summary
by MITRE
The FusionSphere OpenStack with software V100R006C00 and V100R006C10 has a command injection vulnerability due to the insufficient input validation on four TCP listening ports. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit the vulnerabilities to gain root privileges by sending some messages with malicious commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2023
The FusionSphere OpenStack platform version 100R006C00 and 100R006C10 contains a critical command injection vulnerability that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within its network communication stack. This vulnerability specifically affects four TCP listening ports that handle incoming messages without proper sanitization of user inputs. The flaw represents a fundamental security weakness in the platform's input handling architecture, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary commands directly into the system's execution pipeline. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network exposure is unavoidable. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category, specifically representing command injection flaws that allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target system. The affected TCP ports likely serve as communication endpoints for system management or configuration functions, creating an ideal scenario for privilege escalation attacks. Attackers can craft specially formatted messages containing malicious command sequences that bypass input validation checks, ultimately allowing them to execute commands with the highest privileges available on the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation leads to complete system compromise and root privilege elevation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands with system-level privileges, effectively gaining complete control over the FusionSphere OpenStack environment. This includes the ability to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, install malware, or establish persistent backdoors within the platform. The implications are particularly severe for cloud infrastructure deployments where FusionSphere OpenStack serves as the core virtualization platform, as compromise of this system can lead to widespread data breaches and service disruptions. The vulnerability's presence in both V100R006C00 and V100R006C10 versions indicates a widespread issue affecting multiple releases of the platform, suggesting that the underlying architectural flaw was not properly addressed in the security patches. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which covers command and script execution through the command line interface, and T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploits. The attack vector leverages the platform's network exposure, making it particularly dangerous in cloud environments where such systems are often exposed to untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of multiple defensive measures to protect against exploitation attempts. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the affected TCP ports to trusted networks only, effectively reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Input validation mechanisms must be strengthened across all TCP listening endpoints to properly sanitize and validate incoming messages before processing. This includes implementing proper command filtering, parameter validation, and input length restrictions to prevent malicious payloads from being executed. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns of communication that might indicate exploitation attempts against these vulnerable ports. The platform should be updated to versions that contain proper input validation fixes, with immediate patching prioritized as a critical security measure. Security administrators should also implement regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other system components. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and disabling unnecessary TCP ports can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as a high-severity issue according to industry security frameworks necessitates immediate remediation actions, as the potential for complete system compromise makes this vulnerability a critical threat to enterprise security infrastructure.