CVE-2018-10885 in atomic-openshift
Summary
by MITRE
In atomic-openshift before version 3.10.9 a malicious network-policy configuration can cause Openshift Routing to crash when using ovs-networkpolicy plugin. An attacker can use this flaw to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) attack on an Openshift 3.9, or 3.7 Cluster.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10885 represents a critical denial of service weakness in the atomic-openshift platform prior to version 3.10.9. This flaw specifically affects the OpenShift routing functionality when the ovs-networkpolicy plugin is in use, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted network policy configurations can trigger system instability and complete service disruption. The vulnerability exploits a fundamental flaw in how the platform processes certain network policy rules, leading to unexpected behavior that manifests as routing component crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the ovs-networkpolicy plugin's handling of network policy configurations. When maliciously constructed network policies are applied to an OpenShift cluster running versions 3.7 or 3.9, the routing component fails to properly process these inputs, resulting in a cascade of failures that ultimately causes the entire routing service to become unavailable. This issue falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" and represents a classic example of how malformed input can lead to system instability and service disruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely without requiring elevated privileges, making it accessible to any attacker who can submit network policy configurations to the affected cluster.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can effectively render entire OpenShift clusters unusable for their intended purpose of hosting containerized applications. When the routing service crashes, all applications that depend on proper network routing within the cluster become inaccessible to both internal and external users, potentially causing significant business disruption and data loss. The vulnerability affects clusters using the Open vSwitch (OVS) network policy implementation, which is a common networking solution in enterprise OpenShift deployments. This flaw directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for "Network Denial of Service" within the context of cloud and containerized environments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to OpenShift versions 3.10.9 or later where the issue has been resolved. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing strict network policy validation procedures and monitoring for unusual policy configurations that could indicate exploitation attempts. The recommended remediation approach aligns with security best practices for vulnerability management and follows the principle of least privilege by ensuring that only validated and properly formatted network policies are applied to production clusters. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in network policy implementations and other cluster components that could potentially be exploited for denial of service attacks.