CVE-2018-7033 in Slurm
Summary
by MITRE
SchedMD Slurm before 17.02.10 and 17.11.x before 17.11.5 allows SQL Injection attacks against SlurmDBD.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7033 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the SchedMD Slurm workload management system, specifically affecting the SlurmDBD component responsible for database operations. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 17.02.10 and 17.11.5, creating a significant security risk for high-performance computing environments that rely on Slurm for job scheduling and resource management. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code through improperly sanitized input parameters, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of all data stored within the Slurm database system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the SlurmDBD daemon, which processes database queries from various Slurm components and user interfaces. When user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization, attackers can manipulate the database structure to execute unauthorized commands. This weakness falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because SlurmDBD typically operates with elevated privileges and has access to sensitive job scheduling data, user information, and resource allocation details that could be exploited for unauthorized access or data manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can enable attackers to gain persistent access to high-performance computing clusters and potentially escalate privileges within the system. Organizations utilizing Slurm for managing large-scale computational resources face severe risks including unauthorized job submission, modification of scheduling policies, theft of sensitive research data, or complete disruption of computing operations. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web interfaces, command-line tools, or API endpoints that interact with the Slurm database. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving data manipulation and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the SQL injection to modify database entries and potentially gain deeper system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7033 require immediate patching of affected Slurm installations to versions 17.02.10 or 17.11.5 and later, which contain proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to SlurmDBD services and restrict database connections to trusted hosts only. Additional defensive measures include regular monitoring of database logs for suspicious query patterns, implementing database user privilege controls, and establishing robust backup procedures to ensure rapid recovery in case of successful exploitation. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems within their infrastructure and ensure that all Slurm components are properly configured with secure database connection parameters. The remediation process must also include thorough testing of patched environments to verify that the SQL injection protections are functioning correctly without disrupting legitimate system operations.