CVE-2018-1315 in Hive
Summary
by MITRE
In Apache Hive 2.1.0 to 2.3.2, when 'COPY FROM FTP' statement is run using HPL/SQL extension to Hive, a compromised/malicious FTP server can cause the file to be written to an arbitrary location on the cluster where the command is run from. This is because FTP client code in HPL/SQL does not verify the destination location of the downloaded file. This does not affect hive cli user and hiveserver2 user as hplsql is a separate command line script and needs to be invoked differently.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/22/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-1315 represents a critical security flaw in Apache Hive versions 2.1.0 through 2.3.2 that specifically affects the HPL/SQL extension functionality. This issue arises from improper input validation and destination path verification within the FTP client implementation used by HPL/SQL, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors who can manipulate file download operations to write content to unintended locations within the cluster infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the file system level, allowing remote attackers to potentially overwrite critical system files or inject malicious content into arbitrary locations accessible by the Hive process.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the lack of proper destination path validation in the HPL/SQL FTP client implementation. When users execute the 'COPY FROM FTP' statement, the system downloads files from remote FTP servers without verifying that the destination paths are legitimate or restricted to safe locations. This behavior creates a path traversal scenario where malicious FTP servers can instruct the client to write downloaded files to arbitrary locations on the target system, bypassing normal file system access controls and security boundaries. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22 as it involves improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw exists specifically within the HPL/SQL extension's FTP handling code, which does not implement proper sanitization or validation of file paths before writing downloaded content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file writing, as it can enable attackers to compromise the entire Hive cluster infrastructure. An attacker controlling a malicious FTP server can leverage this vulnerability to write malicious files to critical system directories, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data corruption, or complete system compromise. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond executing the legitimate HPL/SQL command, making it difficult to detect and prevent through standard monitoring mechanisms. This vulnerability affects the underlying operating system's file system permissions and can potentially allow attackers to overwrite configuration files, inject malicious code, or establish persistence mechanisms within the cluster environment. The security implications are compounded by the fact that this vulnerability does not affect standard Hive CLI or HiveServer2 operations, but rather operates as a separate execution path that requires explicit invocation of the HPL/SQL command line interface.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the HPL/SQL extension when it is not required for operations, implementing network segmentation to restrict access to trusted FTP servers, and applying the latest security patches from Apache Hive releases that address this specific vulnerability. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of all systems running affected Hive versions to identify and disable unnecessary HPL/SQL functionality. The mitigation strategies should align with ATT&CK framework tactic TA0006 (Credential Access) and technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) by ensuring that only authorized users can execute potentially dangerous operations and that file system access controls are properly enforced. Additional protective measures include implementing network monitoring to detect unusual FTP traffic patterns, establishing strict firewall rules limiting FTP access to known good sources, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other components of the data processing pipeline.