CVE-2018-1276 in Windows 2012R2 stemcells
Summary
by MITRE
Windows 2012R2 stemcells, versions prior to 1200.17, contain an information exposure vulnerability on vSphere. A remote user with the ability to push apps can execute crafted commands to read the IaaS metadata from the VM, which may contain BOSH credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2020
This vulnerability exists within the Windows 2012R2 stemcell versions prior to 1200.17, specifically affecting vSphere environments where the information exposure occurs through the IaaS metadata service. The flaw allows a remote attacker with application deployment privileges to execute crafted commands that can read sensitive metadata from the virtual machine. This metadata contains critical BOSH credentials that provide access to the underlying infrastructure management systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient isolation between the application runtime environment and the metadata service, creating a path for unauthorized information disclosure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of metadata service access within the stemcell implementation. When applications are deployed to the platform, the malicious user can exploit the lack of proper access controls to retrieve metadata that would normally be restricted to system-level processes only. This information exposure occurs because the stemcell does not adequately enforce the principle of least privilege when accessing the metadata service. The vulnerability is categorized as an information exposure issue that can be leveraged for credential theft and subsequent lateral movement within the infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using Pivotal Cloud Foundry or similar platforms that rely on BOSH for infrastructure management. An attacker who gains the ability to deploy applications can escalate their privileges and obtain access to BOSH credentials that provide administrative control over the entire infrastructure. This creates a severe risk for organizations where application developers or untrusted users have deployment privileges, as they could potentially gain access to the underlying cloud infrastructure management systems. The vulnerability directly impacts the security boundary between application deployment and infrastructure management, allowing for privilege escalation and potential compromise of the entire platform.
Mitigation strategies should focus on updating the stemcell versions to 1200.17 or later, which contain the necessary patches to prevent unauthorized metadata access. Organizations should also implement strict access controls for application deployment privileges, ensuring that only trusted administrators can push applications to the platform. Network segmentation and proper firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to the metadata service from application runtime environments. Additionally, organizations should regularly audit their deployment processes and implement monitoring for suspicious metadata access patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 for information exposure and relates to ATT&CK technique T1552 for credentials from password stores, highlighting the need for comprehensive credential protection strategies across all infrastructure layers.