CVE-2018-8008 in Storm
Summary
by MITRE
Apache Storm version 1.0.6 and earlier, 1.2.1 and earlier, and version 1.1.2 and earlier expose an arbitrary file write vulnerability, that can be achieved using a specially crafted zip archive (affects other archives as well, bzip2, tar, xz, war, cpio, 7z), that holds path traversal filenames. So when the filename gets concatenated to the target extraction directory, the final path ends up outside of the target folder.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-8008 represents a critical arbitrary file write flaw in Apache Storm versions 1.0.6 and earlier, 1.1.2 and earlier, and 1.2.1 and earlier. This issue stems from insufficient validation of archive file contents during extraction processes, particularly affecting multiple archive formats including zip, bzip2, tar, xz, war, cpio, and 7z. The vulnerability manifests when maliciously crafted archive files contain path traversal filenames that, upon extraction, result in files being written outside the intended target directory. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw enables attackers to write files to arbitrary locations on the system where Storm is running, potentially leading to privilege escalation, code execution, or system compromise. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability is particularly dangerous in distributed computing environments where Storm applications process untrusted data from external sources, as it can be exploited to install backdoors, modify critical system files, or disrupt service operations. The attack vector typically involves an attacker uploading or delivering a malicious archive file that contains filenames with directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ that bypass normal extraction safeguards. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through archive files and T1078 for valid accounts exploitation, as it can be leveraged to gain persistent access to compromised systems. The impact extends beyond simple file manipulation to potentially enable complete system compromise, especially when Storm is running with elevated privileges or when the targeted extraction directory has write permissions for untrusted users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation during archive extraction operations within Apache Storm's processing pipeline. When Storm processes archive files for topology deployment or resource management, it fails to sanitize filenames contained within these archives before performing extraction operations. The concatenation of unvalidated filenames with hardcoded target directories creates a path traversal condition where the final file path can escape the intended extraction boundaries. This flaw specifically affects Storm's handling of compressed archives during topology submission, dependency resolution, and resource management processes. The vulnerability can be triggered through various attack scenarios including malicious topology uploads, compromised dependency repositories, or supply chain attacks where attackers compromise legitimate archive files. Security researchers have identified that the issue stems from inadequate path validation logic that does not properly check for special characters or directory traversal sequences in archive member names. The exploitation process typically requires an attacker to craft an archive file containing filenames with sequences like ../../etc/passwd or ..\..\Windows\System32\cmd.exe that, when extracted, would overwrite critical system files or create malicious executables in protected directories. This vulnerability represents a classic example of unsafe archive extraction practices that have been documented in numerous security advisories and represents a fundamental flaw in Storm's resource handling architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-8008 require immediate patching of affected Apache Storm versions to the latest secure releases that include proper path validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive network segmentation and access controls to limit Storm cluster exposure to untrusted inputs and reduce the attack surface available to potential adversaries. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious archive file processing activities and unusual file creation patterns in Storm's working directories. System administrators must ensure that Storm processes run with minimal required privileges and that extraction directories have strict access controls to prevent unauthorized file modifications. Additional defensive measures include implementing input validation at multiple layers including network ingress controls, application-level checks, and regular security audits of Storm configurations. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can detect and block malicious archive file uploads. The remediation process should include thorough vulnerability assessments of all Storm installations and verification that proper path validation is implemented in all archive handling components. Regular security training for development teams should emphasize secure coding practices for archive handling and path validation to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom Storm extensions or modifications. Compliance with security standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requires organizations to implement proper file handling controls and maintain audit trails of archive processing activities to ensure detection of potential exploitation attempts.