CVE-2023-50379 in Ambari
Summary
by MITRE • 02/27/2024
Malicious code injection in Apache Ambari in prior to 2.7.8. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.7.8, which fixes this issue.
Impact: A Cluster Operator can manipulate the request by adding a malicious code injection and gain a root over the cluster main host.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2024
Apache Ambari serves as a critical management platform for apache hadoop clusters, providing web-based interfaces for provisioning, managing, and monitoring distributed systems. The vulnerability CVE-2023-50379 represents a severe code injection flaw that existed in versions prior to 2.7.8, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate privileges within cluster environments. This vulnerability specifically targets the cluster operator's ability to manipulate requests through carefully crafted inputs that bypass normal validation mechanisms. The flaw allows an authenticated user with cluster operator privileges to inject malicious code that can execute with elevated privileges on the main host, effectively granting them root access to the cluster's primary node. This represents a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that aligns with CWE-94, which covers "Improper Control of Generation of Code" and CWE-79, addressing "Cross-site Scripting". The attack vector leverages the platform's insufficient input sanitization and validation processes, enabling an attacker to manipulate API requests and execute arbitrary commands on the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of entire hadoop clusters managed through Ambari. When an attacker gains root access to the main host, they can manipulate cluster configurations, access sensitive data, modify system files, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the environment. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059, "Command and Scripting Interpreter", and T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation", as it enables both command execution and privilege escalation within the cluster infrastructure. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where hadoop clusters process sensitive data and critical business operations, as this single vulnerability could provide attackers with complete control over the data processing infrastructure. The root access granted through this vulnerability allows for complete system compromise, enabling attackers to modify cluster configurations, access all stored data, and potentially move laterally within the network to compromise additional systems. Organizations relying on Ambari for cluster management face significant risk if they have not upgraded to version 2.7.8 or later, as this vulnerability can be exploited by attackers with minimal privileges to achieve maximum system compromise.
The remediation approach requires immediate upgrade to Apache Ambari version 2.7.8 or higher, which includes patched input validation mechanisms and enhanced code injection protections. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Ambari installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred prior to the upgrade. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect unusual API request patterns and command execution activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review and harden their cluster operator access controls, ensuring that only trusted personnel have elevated privileges within the Ambari environment. The upgrade process should include thorough testing to ensure compatibility with existing cluster configurations and workflows. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, API request rate limiting, and enhanced logging of administrative activities. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify potential weaknesses in the Ambari management infrastructure. The fix implemented in version 2.7.8 addresses the core input validation issues that allowed the code injection, thereby preventing unauthorized privilege escalation and maintaining the integrity of cluster management operations.