CVE-2017-9326 in Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The keystore password for the Spark History Server may be exposed in unsecured files under the /var/run/cloudera-scm-agent directory managed by Cloudera Manager. The keystore file itself is not exposed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9326 represents a critical security flaw in the Cloudera Manager configuration management system that affects the Spark History Server component. This issue stems from improper file permission handling within the Cloudera ecosystem where sensitive authentication credentials are stored in plaintext within unsecured directories. The vulnerability specifically targets the /var/run/cloudera-scm-agent directory structure which serves as a temporary runtime environment for Cloudera Manager agent processes. The keystore password for the Spark History Server is written to files within this directory without adequate access controls, creating a potential attack vector for unauthorized individuals who gain access to the system. This configuration flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper credential handling, as the password remains accessible to any process or user that can read files in the designated directory path.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the Cloudera Manager agent's process of writing sensitive configuration data to temporary runtime directories during service configuration. When the Spark History Server is deployed through Cloudera Manager, the system generates keystore password files in the /var/run/cloudera-scm-agent directory without enforcing restrictive file permissions. These files typically contain the password used to access the SSL keystore that secures communications between the Spark History Server and client applications. The vulnerability exists because the system does not properly implement access control mechanisms to restrict file access to only authorized processes, allowing any user account with read permissions to the directory to potentially extract this sensitive information. This flaw is particularly concerning as it affects the core authentication mechanism that protects Spark job history data and associated metadata from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9326 extends beyond simple credential exposure to encompass broader security implications for data protection and system integrity. An attacker who gains access to the compromised system can extract the Spark History Server keystore password and potentially use it to impersonate legitimate services or decrypt sensitive job data stored in the history server. This exposure creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks where attackers can access historical Spark job information, including potentially sensitive data processed by these jobs, job configurations, and execution metrics. The vulnerability also affects compliance with industry standards such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, as it creates unauthorized access points to sensitive data repositories. The impact is further amplified when considering that Cloudera Manager typically manages multiple services and clusters, meaning a single compromised credential could potentially provide access to multiple Spark environments within the same deployment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to address the exposed credentials. The primary remediation involves enforcing proper file permissions on the /var/run/cloudera-scm-agent directory and its contents, ensuring that only the Cloudera Manager agent processes have appropriate access to the sensitive files. System administrators should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to these directories and establish regular audits of file permissions and access logs. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276 which specifically addresses improper file permissions and improper privileges, while also mapping to ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for credentials from password stores and T1078 for valid accounts. Organizations should also review their overall security posture and implement additional controls such as network segmentation, enhanced monitoring, and regular security assessments to prevent similar credential exposure issues in other components of their big data infrastructure. The remediation process should include both immediate fixes to existing configurations and long-term improvements to the automated deployment and configuration management processes to prevent recurrence of such vulnerabilities in future deployments.