CVE-2017-9795 in Geode
Summary
by MITRE
When an Apache Geode cluster before v1.3.0 is operating in secure mode, a user with read access to specific regions within a Geode cluster may execute OQL queries that allow read and write access to objects within unauthorized regions. In addition a user could invoke methods that allow remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2021
Apache Geode before version 1.3.0 contains a critical authorization vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the security model of the distributed data management system. This vulnerability affects clusters operating in secure mode where proper access controls should be enforced between different regions. The flaw manifests as an insufficient authorization check that allows authenticated users with read permissions on specific regions to escalate their privileges through Object Query Language queries. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of user permissions during query execution, enabling attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and gain unauthorized access to data in regions they should not be able to read or write.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the OQL query engine's handling of cross-region operations without proper authorization verification. When a user executes an OQL query that references objects from unauthorized regions, the system fails to validate whether the requesting user has appropriate permissions for those target regions. This authorization bypass allows attackers to construct queries that can read and write to objects in regions where they only possess read access. The vulnerability extends beyond simple data access to include remote code execution capabilities, as users can invoke methods on objects within unauthorized regions. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited through carefully crafted OQL queries that leverage the system's method invocation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations relying on Apache Geode for distributed data management in secure environments. Attackers who gain read access to any region can potentially compromise the entire cluster's data integrity and availability. The remote code execution capability means that an attacker could execute arbitrary commands on the cluster nodes, potentially leading to full system compromise. This vulnerability affects the fundamental security assumptions of the Geode security model and could allow attackers to access sensitive data, modify critical information, or disrupt cluster operations. Organizations with multiple regions containing sensitive data are particularly at risk, as a single compromised user account with read access to one region could provide access to all cluster data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Apache Geode installations to version 1.3.0 or later where the authorization checks have been properly implemented. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to Geode cluster endpoints, ensuring that only authorized applications and administrators can connect to the cluster. Regular security audits should verify that proper region-level access controls are configured and that users have only the minimum necessary permissions for their legitimate operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and represents a specific instance of insufficient authorization as outlined in the CWE taxonomy. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and command and control operations that could be used to establish persistent access to the compromised cluster. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging of OQL query execution to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails for security investigations.