CVE-2018-11779 in Storm
Summary
by MITRE
In Apache Storm versions 1.1.0 to 1.2.2, when the user is using the storm-kafka-client or storm-kafka modules, it is possible to cause the Storm UI daemon to deserialize user provided bytes into a Java class.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11779 represents a critical deserialization flaw within Apache Storm versions 1.1.0 through 1.2.2 that specifically affects users utilizing the storm-kafka-client or storm-kafka modules. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user-provided data during the deserialization process within the Storm UI daemon, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw exists because the system accepts untrusted data and attempts to deserialize it into Java objects without proper sanitization or validation checks, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that can be interpreted as legitimate Java class structures.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which categorizes deserialization of untrusted data as a dangerous practice that can lead to remote code execution. When the Storm UI daemon processes data from Kafka topics through the affected modules, it inadvertently accepts serialized Java objects from external sources that could contain malicious code. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the Storm UI daemon typically runs with elevated privileges and has access to sensitive system resources, making successful exploitation potentially devastating. The vulnerability operates through the Java serialization mechanism where attacker-controlled data can be transformed into executable code, bypassing normal security boundaries and access controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-11779 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can lead to complete system compromise when exploited successfully. An attacker who gains access to a Storm cluster through this vulnerability could potentially execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the Storm UI process, which often includes access to cluster configuration data, monitoring information, and potentially other system resources. The attack requires minimal prerequisites since the vulnerability is present in the UI daemon's processing of Kafka-related data, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Storm is used for data processing pipelines that might be exposed to untrusted data sources. This vulnerability can be leveraged to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt cluster operations, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on Apache Storm for distributed processing.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Apache Storm versions 1.2.3 or later, where the deserialization vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization of user-provided data. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to Storm UI components, configuring firewalls to restrict external access to UI ports, and ensuring that Kafka topics used by Storm are properly secured with authentication and authorization mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1210 exploitation of remote services, and organizations should implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous deserialization patterns in Storm processes. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime application self-protection measures and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their distributed processing infrastructure, particularly those involving serialization mechanisms that handle external data inputs.