CVE-2018-15797 in Cloud Foundry NFS Volume
Summary
by MITRE
Cloud Foundry NFS volume release, 1.2.x prior to 1.2.5, 1.5.x prior to 1.5.4, 1.7.x prior to 1.7.3, logs the cf admin username and password when running the nfsbrokerpush BOSH deploy errand. A remote authenticated user with access to BOSH can obtain the admin credentials for the Cloud Foundry Platform through the logs of the NFS volume deploy errand.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-15797 affects Cloud Foundry NFS volume releases across multiple version branches including 1.2.x prior to 1.2.5, 1.5.x prior to 1.5.4, and 1.7.x prior to 1.7.3. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes administrative credentials through improper logging practices within the deployment process. The issue specifically manifests when executing the nfsbrokerpush BOSH deploy errand, which is a component used to deploy NFS broker functionality within Cloud Foundry environments. The vulnerability stems from the logging mechanism that inadvertently captures and stores sensitive authentication credentials in plain text within system logs.
The technical flaw constitutes a classic case of insecure logging practices where administrative credentials are written to log files without proper sanitization or encryption. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-532, which addresses information exposure through log files, and specifically relates to CWE-259, which deals with hard-coded passwords in configuration files. The flaw occurs because the deployment process does not properly handle credential sanitization before logging operations, creating persistent exposure of administrative access tokens. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by gaining access to BOSH deployment systems and subsequently accessing the log files generated during the nfsbrokerpush errand execution, thereby obtaining the cf admin username and password.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges within Cloud Foundry platforms. A remote authenticated user with BOSH access can leverage this information to gain full administrative control over the target Cloud Foundry environment, potentially compromising all applications, services, and data hosted within that platform. This vulnerability creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by both internal and external threat actors who have gained access to BOSH deployment systems. The exposure of administrative credentials enables attackers to modify application configurations, access sensitive data, manipulate user accounts, and potentially establish persistence within the platform through privilege escalation attacks.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1003 for credential dumping, as attackers can extract credentials from log files and then leverage them for further compromise. Organizations using affected Cloud Foundry versions face elevated risk of data breaches and service disruption, particularly in multi-tenant environments where administrative access can affect multiple applications and user bases. The vulnerability also impacts compliance requirements for organizations subject to regulations such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, and SOC 2, as it creates unauthorized access paths that violate security control frameworks. The long-term exposure of these credentials in log files creates ongoing risk even after the initial exploitation, as attackers can maintain access through credential reuse attacks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases including 1.2.5, 1.5.4, and 1.7.3 respectively, which address the logging vulnerability through proper credential sanitization. Organizations must also implement comprehensive log management practices including log file access controls, regular log rotation, and credential monitoring systems. The implementation of principle of least privilege for BOSH access controls and mandatory audit logging of administrative activities can help detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their Cloud Foundry deployments and implement automated tools to scan for credential exposure in log files. Security teams should also consider implementing privileged access management solutions that separate credential storage from logging systems to prevent such exposure scenarios in the future.