CVE-2019-3879 in oVirt
Summary
by MITRE
It was discovered that in the ovirt's REST API before version 4.3.2.1, RemoveDiskCommand is triggered as an internal command, meaning the permission validation that should be performed against the calling user is skipped. A user with low privileges (eg Basic Operations) could exploit this flaw to delete disks attached to guests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3879 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within the oVirt REST API ecosystem. This issue specifically affects versions prior to 4.3.2.1 and stems from improper permission validation mechanisms within the RemoveDiskCommand execution flow. The flaw allows malicious actors with minimal privileges to perform unauthorized disk deletion operations on virtual machines, fundamentally compromising the integrity and availability of virtualized environments. The vulnerability exists at the application layer where internal command execution bypasses standard access control checks that should normally validate user permissions before granting destructive operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the RemoveDiskCommand's handling within the oVirt platform's internal architecture. When this command is invoked, it operates as an internal process that skips the normal permission validation procedures typically enforced by the system's access control mechanisms. This design flaw creates a pathway where users with basic operational privileges can trigger disk removal operations without proper authorization checks. The command execution flow does not properly validate whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to perform disk deletion, creating an unauthorized access vector that directly contradicts established security principles. This issue manifests as a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in the system's mandatory access control implementation.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-3879 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to disrupt virtual machine operations and potentially cause data loss. A user with basic operations privileges can exploit this vulnerability to remove disks from running or stopped virtual machines, leading to potential service disruption and data integrity issues. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privilege escalation to achieve significant system impact, making it attractive to both malicious insiders and external attackers who have gained access to low-privilege accounts. This vulnerability directly affects the availability and integrity of virtualized infrastructure, as disk removal operations can result in complete virtual machine unavailability and data loss scenarios.
Organizations utilizing oVirt platforms must implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary solution involves upgrading to oVirt version 4.3.2.1 or later, which includes proper permission validation for the RemoveDiskCommand. Additionally, system administrators should review and enforce strict access control policies, ensuring that users with basic operations privileges cannot execute destructive commands. Network segmentation and monitoring of REST API calls can help detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1485 for data destruction. Organizations should also consider implementing additional logging and alerting mechanisms around disk management operations to detect unauthorized activities and maintain audit trail integrity for forensic analysis purposes.