CVE-2018-10898 in openstack-tripleo-heat-templates
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability was found in openstack-tripleo-heat-templates before version 8.0.2-40. When deployed using Director using default configuration, Opendaylight in RHOSP13 is configured with easily guessable default credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10898 resides within the openstack-tripleo-heat-templates component, specifically affecting deployments using the Red Hat OpenStack Platform version 13. This issue represents a critical authentication flaw that directly impacts the security posture of cloud environments. The vulnerability stems from the default configuration practices employed by the OpenStack Director tool during deployment operations, where the OpenDaylight SDN controller component is provisioned with weak default credentials that are easily predictable and well-documented within the security community.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper implementation of credential management during automated cloud deployment processes. When the TripleO Heat templates execute their deployment workflows, they configure the OpenDaylight controller with hardcoded default usernames and passwords that are not only well-known but also readily available through public documentation and security research. This configuration bypasses proper authentication mechanisms and creates an exploitable entry point that adversaries can leverage to gain unauthorized access to the SDN controller. The vulnerability specifically affects the version 8.0.1-40 and earlier releases of the openstack-tripleo-heat-templates package, where the deployment scripts fail to implement secure credential generation or rotation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure to encompass significant security risks within the cloud infrastructure. An attacker who discovers these default credentials can gain administrative access to the OpenDaylight SDN controller, which serves as a critical component managing network traffic and policies within the OpenStack environment. This access enables potential lateral movement within the network, allowing attackers to manipulate routing decisions, intercept network communications, and compromise the overall network security posture. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts with default passwords, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where network segmentation and access controls may be insufficient.
The security implications of this vulnerability are compounded by the fact that the default configuration approach in OpenStack Director tools assumes that administrators will not properly secure the environment post-deployment. This creates a persistent risk where even organizations with otherwise secure practices remain vulnerable due to the initial deployment configuration. The flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates the critical importance of implementing secure-by-default configurations in cloud infrastructure tools. Organizations deploying RHOSP13 using the default TripleO Heat templates are particularly at risk since the vulnerability exists at the deployment level rather than being an issue that can be remediated through patching or configuration changes after deployment. The recommended mitigation involves updating to version 8.0.2-40 or later of the openstack-tripleo-heat-templates package, which implements proper credential generation mechanisms, or manually configuring secure credentials during the deployment process to ensure that default credentials are never used in production environments.