CVE-2018-10930 in glusterfs Server
Summary
by MITRE
A flaw was found in RPC request using gfs3_rename_req in glusterfs server. An authenticated attacker could use this flaw to write to a destination outside the gluster volume.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10930 represents a critical path traversal flaw within the GlusterFS distributed file system implementation. This issue specifically affects the gfs3_rename_req function in the GlusterFS server component, where improper validation of file paths during rename operations creates an opportunity for unauthorized file system access. The flaw exists in the server-side RPC request handling mechanism that processes rename operations, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file paths in ways that bypass normal volume boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and path validation within the GlusterFS server's RPC processing pipeline. When an authenticated user submits a rename request through the gfs3_rename_req function, the system fails to properly validate whether the destination path remains within the confines of the designated gluster volume. This validation gap enables attackers to construct malicious rename operations that target files outside the intended volume scope, effectively creating a path traversal condition. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated access to the system, meaning that any user with valid credentials can potentially exploit this flaw.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-10930 extends beyond simple data access violations, as it enables attackers to write to arbitrary locations on the file system. This capability can lead to data corruption, unauthorized file creation, or even privilege escalation depending on the system configuration. An attacker could potentially overwrite critical system files, inject malicious content into other volumes, or create backdoor files that maintain persistence within the environment. The vulnerability affects organizations running GlusterFS versions prior to 3.12.16, 3.13.2, or 4.0.2, making it a widespread concern for distributed storage environments that rely on this technology for data management.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the CWE-22 weakness category, which specifically addresses path traversal flaws in software systems. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a privilege escalation technique through file system manipulation, potentially enabling lateral movement within affected environments. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the affected versions, implementing network segmentation to limit access to GlusterFS services, and monitoring for anomalous rename operations within file system logs. Additional defensive measures include restricting authenticated user access to only necessary volumes, implementing strict path validation at the application layer, and conducting regular security assessments of distributed storage configurations to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other components of the infrastructure stack.