CVE-2018-1266 in Cloud Foundry Cloud Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Cloud Foundry Cloud Controller, versions prior to 1.52.0, contains information disclosure and path traversal vulnerabilities. An authenticated malicious user can predict the location of application blobs and leverage path traversal to create a malicious application that has the ability to overwrite arbitrary files on the Cloud Controller instance.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2020
The Cloud Foundry Cloud Controller vulnerability CVE-2018-1266 represents a critical security flaw affecting versions prior to 1.52.0 that exposes organizations to significant information disclosure and path traversal risks. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper file handling mechanisms within the application blob storage system, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to exploit predictable file locations and execute malicious file operations. The flaw specifically targets the cloud controller's management of application artifacts, which are essential components for application deployment and execution within the Cloud Foundry platform ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves predictable path generation mechanisms that allow malicious users to determine the storage locations of application blobs within the file system. When an authenticated user submits crafted application data, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the input paths, enabling path traversal attacks that can navigate beyond intended directories. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-200 Information Disclosure, where the vulnerability allows attackers to access sensitive system resources and potentially overwrite critical files. The attack vector leverages the predictable nature of blob storage paths, making it particularly dangerous as it eliminates the need for extensive reconnaissance to identify valid file locations.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1266 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to overwrite arbitrary files on the Cloud Controller instance, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This vulnerability creates a persistent threat that can be exploited to modify critical system components, inject malicious code, or disrupt service availability. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers must first establish valid credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and gain deeper system access. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts and T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service, as the vulnerability enables both unauthorized access and potential service disruption.
Organizations utilizing Cloud Foundry platforms must implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to version 1.52.0 or later, which includes proper input validation and path sanitization mechanisms. Additional protective measures should encompass strict access controls, monitoring of application blob creation activities, and implementation of file system permissions that prevent arbitrary file overwrites. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and secure file handling practices, particularly in cloud environments where application artifacts are frequently managed and stored. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other components of the cloud infrastructure, as this represents a common attack pattern that affects numerous cloud platforms and applications.