CVE-2018-7262 in Ceph
Summary
by MITRE
In Ceph before 12.2.3 and 13.x through 13.0.1, the rgw_civetweb.cc RGWCivetWeb::init_env function in radosgw doesn't handle malformed HTTP headers properly, allowing for denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7262 affects the Ceph storage system, specifically impacting versions prior to 12.2.3 and 13.x through 13.0.1. This issue resides within the radosgw component which serves as the RESTful gateway for Ceph's object storage functionality. The problem manifests in the RGWCivetWeb::init_env function located in rgw_civetweb.cc, where the system fails to properly process malformed HTTP headers that are sent to the gateway service. This improper handling creates a potential denial of service condition that can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt the availability of the storage system.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the HTTP header processing logic of the Ceph RGW service. When the RGWCivetWeb::init_env function encounters malformed HTTP headers, it does not implement proper error handling or sanitization procedures that would allow the system to gracefully reject or bypass problematic input. This weakness creates a scenario where specially crafted HTTP requests containing malformed headers can cause the service to crash or become unresponsive, effectively rendering the storage gateway unavailable to legitimate users and applications. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the HTTP parsing functionality that handles incoming requests to the Ceph object storage interface.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant security concern for organizations relying on Ceph storage systems for critical data operations. The denial of service condition can result in complete unavailability of the object storage service, disrupting business operations and potentially causing data access failures for applications dependent on the storage infrastructure. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending malformed HTTP headers to the RGW service, causing service disruption without requiring authentication or privileged access. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it can affect data availability, application performance, and overall system reliability within Ceph deployments. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how malformed input can lead to service disruption in networked applications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Ceph versions 12.2.3 or 13.0.2 and later, which contain the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malformed HTTP header patterns, along with monitoring solutions that can detect unusual service behavior or availability disruptions. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at the network boundary and configuring rate limiting on incoming requests can help reduce the impact of such attacks. The remediation efforts should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the upgrade does not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications or storage workloads. Organizations should also review their security monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response protocols specifically addressing denial of service vulnerabilities in storage infrastructure components. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in network services and highlights the need for robust error handling mechanisms in distributed storage systems that serve critical business applications.