CVE-2018-11799 in Oozie
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability allows a user of Apache Oozie 3.1.3-incubating to 5.0.0 to impersonate other users. The malicious user can construct an XML that results workflows running in other user's name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11799 represents a critical authorization flaw in Apache Oozie versions ranging from 3.1.3-incubating through 5.0.0. This issue falls under the category of improper authorization within the software security framework and aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization conditions in software systems. Apache Oozie serves as a workflow scheduler system for Hadoop environments, managing complex data processing workflows that typically involve multiple interconnected jobs and processes. The flaw exists in how the system handles user authentication and authorization contexts during workflow execution, creating a significant security gap that allows malicious actors to exploit the system's trust model.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user identity within XML workflow definitions. When a malicious user constructs a specially crafted XML document, the system fails to properly verify the authenticity of the user context specified within the workflow parameters. This weakness enables unauthorized users to submit workflow definitions that explicitly reference other user accounts, effectively allowing them to execute processes under different user identities. The flaw occurs at the application layer where workflow execution context is determined, bypassing normal authentication mechanisms that should validate user credentials before granting execution privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, creating potential for widespread compromise within Hadoop environments that rely on Apache Oozie for workflow management. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can execute arbitrary workflows under the guise of legitimate users, potentially gaining access to sensitive data, performing unauthorized operations, or disrupting normal business processes. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where multiple users share the same Hadoop cluster and where different users may have varying levels of access permissions. This vulnerability could enable lateral movement within the system and provide attackers with access to data that should be restricted to specific user groups or roles.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-11799 should focus on immediate patching of affected Apache Oozie installations to versions that address the authorization flaw. Organizations should implement strict workflow validation mechanisms that enforce proper user authentication before workflow execution, ensuring that XML workflow definitions cannot contain unauthorized user context specifications. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced, where workflow execution permissions are strictly limited to authorized users only. Additionally, monitoring and logging of workflow execution activities should be enhanced to detect unauthorized workflow submissions, with security controls aligned with ATT&CK technique T1078 which addresses valid accounts and legitimate credential use. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of Oozie services to untrusted networks.