CVE-2019-3830 in Ceilometer
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability was found in ceilometer before version 12.0.0.0rc1. An Information Exposure in ceilometer-agent prints sensitive configuration data to log files without DEBUG logging being activated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3830 resides within the ceilometer component of OpenStack infrastructure monitoring systems, specifically affecting versions prior to 12.0.0.0rc1. This issue represents a critical information exposure flaw that fundamentally undermines the security posture of cloud environments relying on ceilometer for metric collection and monitoring. The vulnerability manifests when the ceilometer-agent process operates, inadvertently logging sensitive configuration parameters to system log files even when debug logging is not explicitly enabled, creating an avenue for unauthorized information disclosure.
This technical flaw constitutes a direct violation of security best practices and represents a weakness categorized under CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure." The vulnerability occurs due to improper handling of sensitive data within the ceilometer-agent's logging mechanisms, where configuration values containing authentication tokens, passwords, or other confidential parameters are written to log files with insufficient sanitization or filtering. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and output handling within the monitoring agent, as it fails to distinguish between normal operational logging and sensitive data exposure scenarios. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it can expose credentials and other confidential information to any entity with access to the system logs, potentially providing attackers with elevated privileges and persistent access to cloud resources.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential attack vectors for privilege escalation and lateral movement within cloud environments. When sensitive configuration data such as API keys, database credentials, or authentication tokens are logged in plaintext, attackers can exploit this information to gain unauthorized access to cloud services, databases, and other critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the entire monitoring ecosystem, as compromised ceilometer agents can provide attackers with insights into the underlying cloud architecture and service configurations. This exposure can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including credential theft, service disruption, and potential compromise of the entire OpenStack deployment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-3830 require immediate implementation of software updates to versions 12.0.0.0rc1 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper logging sanitization and configuration handling. Organizations should implement comprehensive log monitoring and access controls to limit who can view system logs containing sensitive information. Security teams must establish strict log retention policies and regularly audit log files for sensitive data exposure. The remediation process should include disabling unnecessary logging levels, implementing proper data sanitization before logging operations, and applying the principle of least privilege to log file access. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing centralized log management solutions with built-in sensitive data filtering capabilities and regular security scanning of log files to detect and prevent such information exposure incidents. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper logging practices and configuration management in cloud security environments, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1070.002 for "Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion" and emphasizing the need for robust configuration management practices under the MITRE ATT&CK framework for cloud security operations.