CVE-2019-10138 in python-novajoin Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
A flaw was discovered in the python-novajoin plugin, all versions up to, excluding 1.1.1, for Red Hat OpenStack Platform. The novajoin API lacked sufficient access control, allowing any keystone authenticated user to generate FreeIPA tokens.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10138 resides within the python-novajoin plugin component of Red Hat OpenStack Platform versions prior to 1.1.1. This flaw represents a critical access control weakness that fundamentally undermines the security posture of cloud deployments relying on this plugin for identity management integration. The issue manifests in the novajoin API's insufficient authorization mechanisms, creating a pathway for unauthorized privilege escalation through the manipulation of authentication tokens.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and access control enforcement within the novajoin API endpoints. When keystone authentication occurs, users are granted access to the system but should be restricted to specific operational boundaries. However, the vulnerability allows any authenticated user to bypass these restrictions and obtain FreeIPA tokens, which typically require elevated privileges or specific administrative permissions. This misconfiguration creates a direct attack vector where standard users can escalate their privileges to gain access to identity management systems that should remain protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables potential attackers to compromise the entire identity management infrastructure of OpenStack deployments. Once an attacker obtains FreeIPA tokens through this vulnerability, they can manipulate user accounts, access sensitive system information, and potentially gain control over the underlying identity provider. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to but excluding 1.1.1, indicating that organizations running older versions face immediate risk without proper mitigation measures.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient authorization checks where the system fails to properly validate user privileges before granting access to sensitive functions. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which involves valid accounts with administrative privileges, as attackers can leverage authenticated sessions to obtain elevated access. The security implications are particularly severe in cloud environments where identity management systems serve as the foundation for access control across multiple services and resources.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to version 1.1.1 or later of the python-novajoin plugin, which contains the necessary access control fixes. Additional defensive measures should include monitoring authentication logs for unusual token generation patterns, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the novajoin API endpoints, and conducting comprehensive access control reviews. The vulnerability also necessitates a thorough audit of all identity management integrations within the OpenStack environment to identify similar access control weaknesses. Security teams should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and establishing automated alerting for unauthorized token generation activities.