CVE-2018-11764 in Hadoop
Summary
by MITRE • 10/22/2020
Web endpoint authentication check is broken in Apache Hadoop 3.0.0-alpha4, 3.0.0-beta1, and 3.0.0. Authenticated users may impersonate any user even if no proxy user is configured.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11764 represents a critical authentication flaw in Apache Hadoop versions 3.0.0-alpha4, 3.0.0-beta1, and 3.0.0 that fundamentally undermines the security model of the distributed computing platform. This issue falls under the category of improper authentication as defined by CWE-287, where the system fails to properly verify user identities before granting access to protected resources. The flaw specifically affects the web endpoint authentication mechanism, which is a critical component for securing Hadoop cluster operations and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data and system functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a failure in the proxy user authentication logic within Hadoop's web interface. When users attempt to access web endpoints, the system should validate whether the requesting user has proper authorization to act on behalf of another user, particularly in scenarios involving proxy user configurations. However, the broken authentication check allows any authenticated user to bypass these validation mechanisms and impersonate arbitrary users within the system. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited without requiring specific proxy user configurations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the same Hadoop cluster.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-11764 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to assume the identity of any user within the Hadoop ecosystem, including those with elevated privileges. This capability allows malicious actors to perform operations that would normally be restricted to specific user roles, potentially leading to data exfiltration, unauthorized modifications to distributed files, or complete compromise of the Hadoop cluster. The vulnerability affects the core security infrastructure of Hadoop, which is designed to protect against unauthorized access to distributed data processing environments. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to privilege escalation techniques and credential access, enabling adversaries to move laterally within the cluster and maintain persistent access to sensitive data processing resources.
Organizations utilizing affected Apache Hadoop versions face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it essentially removes the authentication boundaries that protect against unauthorized access to cluster resources. The flaw can be exploited by any authenticated user, meaning that even users with minimal privileges can gain access to resources that should only be available to administrators or specific authorized personnel. This vulnerability particularly impacts environments where Hadoop clusters process sensitive data, as it provides a path for attackers to bypass security controls that are fundamental to protecting enterprise data assets. The lack of dependency on specific proxy user configurations makes this vulnerability particularly insidious, as it can be exploited in virtually any Hadoop 3.0.0 deployment regardless of the specific security configuration.
The recommended mitigation strategy for CVE-2018-11764 involves immediate upgrade to Apache Hadoop versions that contain the fix for this authentication flaw. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring and logging of authentication events to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security administrators should review and validate proxy user configurations to ensure that only explicitly authorized users can act on behalf of others within the system. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of Hadoop web endpoints to trusted networks only. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar authentication vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the Hadoop ecosystem, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of robust authentication mechanisms in distributed computing environments.