CVE-2019-10150 in Container Platform
Summary
by MITRE
It was found that OpenShift Container Platform versions 3.6.x - 4.6.0 does not perform SSH Host Key checking when using ssh key authentication during builds. An attacker, with the ability to redirect network traffic, could use this to alter the resulting build output.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10150 affects Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform versions ranging from 3.6.x through 4.6.0, representing a significant security flaw in the platform's build authentication mechanisms. This issue stems from the platform's failure to properly validate SSH host keys during build processes that utilize SSH key authentication, creating a potential attack vector that could compromise the integrity of container builds and their resulting artifacts. The vulnerability specifically impacts the trust model that OpenShift relies on when establishing secure connections to remote repositories or systems during the build lifecycle.
The technical flaw manifests in the absence of proper SSH host key verification during build operations, which allows attackers to exploit man-in-the-middle attack scenarios. When OpenShift performs builds using SSH key authentication, the system should validate that the host key presented by the remote server matches the expected key, thereby ensuring that the connection is established with the legitimate server rather than an attacker-controlled intermediary. Without this verification step, malicious actors who can redirect network traffic or compromise the network path between the OpenShift cluster and remote repositories can intercept and modify build outputs, potentially injecting malicious code or altering the build process in ways that compromise the security and integrity of deployed applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns, as it fundamentally undermines the trustworthiness of the build process within OpenShift environments. Attackers could leverage this weakness to inject backdoors, malicious dependencies, or other harmful modifications into container images before they are deployed to production environments, potentially affecting thousands of applications and services that rely on these builds. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where OpenShift is used to manage critical applications, as compromised builds could lead to widespread security breaches, data exfiltration, or service disruption. This vulnerability directly violates the principles of secure software development practices and can result in supply chain attacks where malicious actors compromise the build infrastructure rather than targeting the final applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to versions of OpenShift that address this issue, implementing network-level protections such as DNS security measures to prevent traffic redirection, and establishing more robust build verification processes that include integrity checks of build artifacts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which covers cryptographic weaknesses, and represents a failure to implement proper host authentication mechanisms. From an attacker perspective, this issue maps to ATT&CK technique T1583.001, which involves creating or modifying infrastructure for use in initial access and persistence phases. Additionally, the flaw demonstrates characteristics of T1071.004, representing application layer protocol usage for command and control communications, as attackers could potentially use compromised build processes to establish persistent access through modified container images. Organizations should also consider implementing build integrity monitoring solutions and establishing secure baseline configurations that enforce SSH host key verification as part of their security posture. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that updated configurations maintain proper build functionality while providing the necessary security controls to prevent future exploitation of this vulnerability.