CVE-2018-11765 in Hadoop
Summary
by MITRE • 10/04/2020
In Apache Hadoop versions 3.0.0-alpha2 to 3.0.0, 2.9.0 to 2.9.2, 2.8.0 to 2.8.5, any users can access some servlets without authentication when Kerberos authentication is enabled and SPNEGO through HTTP is not enabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2020
Apache Hadoop contains a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that affects multiple versions including 3.0.0-alpha2 through 3.0.0, 2.9.0 through 2.9.2, and 2.8.0 through 2.8.5. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication mechanisms when Kerberos authentication is enabled but SPNEGO (Simple and Protected GSSAPI Negotiation Mechanism) through HTTP is not properly configured. The flaw allows any user to access certain servlets without authentication, effectively undermining the security controls that should protect sensitive Hadoop components.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the authentication flow within Hadoop's web interface components. When Kerberos authentication is enabled but SPNEGO is not configured, the system fails to properly enforce authentication checks for specific servlet endpoints. This creates an authentication gap where unauthorized users can access administrative and operational interfaces that should only be accessible to authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically impacts the web-based management interfaces and monitoring servlets that are part of Hadoop's distributed computing framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides unauthorized access to critical Hadoop administrative functions. Attackers can potentially access cluster status information, configuration details, and management interfaces without proper authentication credentials. This exposure could lead to information disclosure, unauthorized configuration changes, and potential compromise of the entire Hadoop cluster. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Hadoop for big data processing and storage, where unauthorized access to cluster management interfaces could result in data breaches or service disruption.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-287 which describes improper authentication issues in software systems. From an ATT&CK perspective, this represents a privilege escalation and credential access technique that allows adversaries to bypass authentication controls. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enabling SPNEGO support for HTTP authentication, properly configuring Kerberos settings, and ensuring that all web interfaces require proper authentication. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of Hadoop web interfaces to untrusted networks. Regular security audits and monitoring of authentication logs should be conducted to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive authentication configuration in distributed systems and the need for thorough security testing of authentication mechanisms before deployment.