CVE-2017-8192 in FusionSphere OpenStack
Summary
by MITRE
FusionSphere OpenStack V100R006C00 has an improper authorization vulnerability. Due to improper authorization, an attacker with low privilege may exploit this vulnerability to obtain the operation authority of some specific directory, causing privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2023
The FusionSphere OpenStack V100R006C00 system contains a critical improper authorization vulnerability that allows low-privilege attackers to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to specific directories. This vulnerability represents a significant security flaw in the access control mechanisms of the platform, potentially enabling attackers to bypass intended security boundaries and execute unauthorized operations. The issue stems from inadequate validation of user permissions and insufficient authorization checks within the system's directory access controls. According to CWE-284, this vulnerability aligns with improper access control flaws where the system fails to properly enforce authorization checks, allowing unauthorized users to access resources they should not be permitted to reach. The vulnerability exists in the context of cloud infrastructure management where proper privilege separation is critical for maintaining system integrity and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive operational components. This type of flaw particularly affects multi-tenant environments where isolation between different user roles and administrative functions must be strictly maintained.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the system fails to properly validate user credentials and authorization levels before granting access to specific directories. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests or leveraging existing low-privilege accounts to traverse directory structures and gain access to operations typically restricted to higher-privilege users. The improper authorization mechanism allows attackers to escalate their privileges through directory traversal techniques or by exploiting inconsistencies in the access control matrix. The vulnerability can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through legitimate system access. This exploitation pathway represents a significant concern for cloud environments where unauthorized access to administrative directories could lead to complete system compromise. The flaw likely exists in the authentication and authorization service components of the OpenStack platform where directory access permissions are not properly enforced or validated.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially allowing attackers to perform critical system operations such as modifying configurations, accessing sensitive data, or manipulating cloud resources. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain access to administrative functions, user credentials, or system configuration files stored in restricted directories. Organizations using FusionSphere OpenStack V100R006C00 may face severe consequences including data breaches, unauthorized resource consumption, and potential complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the platform by undermining the principle of least privilege and proper role-based access control. In enterprise environments, this could lead to regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, and damage to organizational reputation. The impact is particularly severe in multi-tenant cloud deployments where one compromised account could potentially provide access to other tenants' resources or administrative functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper access control measures and authorization validation. Organizations should apply vendor-provided patches and updates as soon as they become available to address the specific authorization flaws in the FusionSphere OpenStack implementation. System administrators must review and strengthen access control policies, ensuring that directory permissions are properly configured and that least privilege principles are enforced throughout the platform. Regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar authorization flaws in other system components. The implementation of additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication, enhanced logging, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts can help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access control lists to limit exposure of critical system directories. According to security best practices and NIST guidelines, proper authorization validation should be enforced at multiple levels within the system architecture to prevent unauthorized access and privilege escalation. Continuous monitoring and regular security assessments are essential to maintain the integrity of access control mechanisms and prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future system configurations.