CVE-2019-1666 in HyperFlex Software
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Graphite service of Cisco HyperFlex software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to retrieve data from the Graphite service. The vulnerability is due to insufficient authentication controls. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted requests to the Graphite service. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to retrieve any statistics from the Graphite service. Versions prior to 3.5(2a) are affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1666 resides within the Graphite service component of Cisco HyperFlex software, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the system's data protection mechanisms. This weakness specifically targets the authentication controls implemented within the Graphite service, which serves as a time-series database and monitoring tool for collecting and storing performance metrics. The Graphite service operates as a crucial element in the HyperFlex infrastructure, providing real-time statistics and monitoring capabilities for the entire system. When properly configured, this service should enforce strict access controls to prevent unauthorized data retrieval. However, the flaw allows attackers to bypass these security measures entirely, creating a significant exposure that affects the confidentiality of system metrics and performance data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication mechanisms within the Graphite service, which operates without proper verification of client credentials or access permissions. This authentication bypass occurs at the service level where requests are processed without validating the identity of the requesting entity. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific HTTP requests that target the Graphite service endpoints, leveraging the absence of authentication checks to access sensitive statistical information. The flaw does not require any specialized privileges or credentials to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed by any remote attacker with network access to the affected system. The vulnerability affects all versions of Cisco HyperFlex software prior to 3.5(2a), indicating that the authentication controls were either completely absent or insufficiently implemented in earlier releases.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, creating potential risks for system monitoring and operational security. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can retrieve any statistics stored within the Graphite service, potentially gaining insights into system performance patterns, resource utilization, and operational behavior. This information could be leveraged for further attacks or to understand the target environment's operational characteristics. The exposure of performance metrics might reveal system bottlenecks, resource constraints, or operational inefficiencies that could be exploited by malicious actors. Additionally, the lack of authentication controls means that attackers could potentially access sensitive operational data that should remain confidential, potentially compromising the overall security posture of the HyperFlex environment.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of fundamental security principles. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to techniques involving credential access and reconnaissance activities, where attackers can gather system information without requiring legitimate credentials. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Cisco HyperFlex version 3.5(2a) or later, which contains the necessary authentication controls. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of the Graphite service to authorized personnel only. Additionally, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and implementing network-based intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authentication mechanisms in monitoring and management services, as these components often contain valuable operational data that requires strict access controls to maintain system security and integrity.