CVE-2018-10841 in GlusterFS
Summary
by MITRE
glusterfs is vulnerable to privilege escalation on gluster server nodes. An authenticated gluster client via TLS could use gluster cli with --remote-host command to add it self to trusted storage pool and perform privileged gluster operations like adding other machines to trusted storage pool, start, stop, and delete volumes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10841 affects the glusterfs distributed file system implementation, specifically targeting the privilege escalation mechanisms within gluster server nodes. This security flaw enables authenticated gluster clients to exploit weaknesses in the trusted storage pool management system, creating a significant vector for unauthorized administrative access. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of remote host commands executed through the gluster command line interface, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the system's trust relationships and gain elevated privileges. The issue manifests when a client establishes a TLS connection to a gluster server and utilizes the --remote-host parameter to integrate itself into the trusted storage pool, thereby bypassing normal access controls that should prevent such unauthorized additions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the gluster cli command processing logic, which fails to properly validate the authenticity and authorization status of hosts attempting to join the trusted storage pool. When an authenticated client issues a command with the --remote-host flag, the system does not adequately verify whether the requesting host has legitimate administrative privileges or authorization to add new nodes to the cluster. This weakness directly corresponds to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and specifically relates to inadequate privilege management within distributed storage systems. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to perform operations that should be restricted to authorized administrators, including the ability to add new machines to the trusted storage pool, start, stop, and delete volumes, all of which constitute critical administrative functions within the glusterfs architecture.
The operational impact of this privilege escalation vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating a comprehensive attack surface that could lead to complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can effectively gain administrative control over the entire glusterfs cluster, enabling them to manipulate storage volumes, add malicious nodes to the pool, and potentially disrupt storage services or exfiltrate data. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where glusterfs serves as a critical storage infrastructure component, as this vulnerability could allow attackers to establish persistent access to sensitive data repositories. The attack vector through TLS connections suggests that even encrypted communication channels can be exploited, undermining the security assumptions of the transport layer and creating a scenario where network encryption does not adequately protect against internal privilege escalation attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10841 should focus on implementing strict access controls and authentication mechanisms within the glusterfs environment. System administrators should ensure that only authorized and trusted hosts can participate in the trusted storage pool management process, with additional verification steps required for any host additions. The implementation of role-based access controls and enhanced authentication protocols for gluster cli commands would significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit which hosts can communicate with glusterfs servers and enforce strict firewall rules that restrict access to glusterfs management interfaces. Additionally, regular security audits of glusterfs configurations and monitoring for unauthorized additions to trusted storage pools should be implemented as part of comprehensive security operations. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK tactic T1068, which covers exploit for privilege escalation, indicates that organizations should strengthen their detection capabilities for suspicious administrative activities and implement logging controls that can identify unauthorized attempts to modify trusted storage pool configurations.