CVE-2019-10139 in cockpit-ovirt
Summary
by MITRE
During HE deployment via cockpit-ovirt, cockpit-ovirt generates an ansible variable file `/var/lib/ovirt-hosted-engine-setup/cockpit/ansibleVarFileXXXXXX.var` which contains the admin and the appliance passwords as plain-text. At the of the deployment procedure, these files are deleted.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10139 represents a critical security flaw in the oVirt hosted engine deployment process through the cockpit interface. This issue manifests during the automated deployment procedure where the cockpit-ovirt component creates temporary ansible variable files containing sensitive authentication credentials. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of privileged information during system provisioning, specifically exposing administrative and appliance passwords in plaintext format within temporary filesystem locations. The affected system generates these variable files with names following the pattern ansibleVarFileXxxxXX.var in the directory /var/lib/ovirt-hosted-engine-setup/cockpit/ which are subsequently removed upon deployment completion. This design flaw creates an attack surface where malicious actors with access to the system can potentially read these temporary files and extract administrative credentials, undermining the security posture of the entire virtualization environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper handling of credentials in temporary files. The flaw occurs at the operational level where the deployment automation does not adequately secure sensitive data during its temporary storage phase, creating a window of opportunity for credential theft. The ansible variable files contain unencrypted passwords that are necessary for the deployment process to function correctly, but their plaintext storage violates fundamental security principles for credential management. The timing of the vulnerability is particularly concerning as the files exist in the filesystem for the duration of the deployment process, providing potential attackers with multiple opportunities to access the sensitive information before the cleanup procedure executes. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of the authentication mechanisms within the oVirt environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-10139 extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges within the virtualization infrastructure. Successful exploitation could enable adversaries to gain administrative control over the hosted engine, potentially leading to complete compromise of the virtualization platform. The vulnerability affects the security of the entire deployment lifecycle, as the temporary files remain accessible to any user or process with appropriate filesystem permissions during the deployment window. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through various methods including local privilege escalation, lateral movement within the network, or by exploiting the compromised credentials to access other systems within the virtualized environment. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the deployment process occurs on systems with shared or unsecured access, as the plaintext credentials could be read by unauthorized users or processes running with elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper credential handling procedures throughout the deployment process. Organizations should ensure that temporary credential files are created with restrictive permissions, using the principle of least privilege to limit access to only necessary processes and users. The deployment automation should be modified to use encrypted storage for sensitive information or to avoid creating plaintext credential files altogether. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to the temporary filesystem locations where these credential files are stored. The recommended approach involves adopting secure coding practices that align with the ATT&CK framework's credential access techniques, particularly focusing on preventing credential dumping and unauthorized file access. Additionally, implementing proper file system auditing and access controls, combined with regular security assessments of deployment procedures, will significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The solution should also include immediate implementation of file cleanup procedures with secure deletion methods to ensure that credential files are not accessible after their intended use period.