CVE-2024-22037 in Manager Server
Summary
by MITRE • 11/28/2024
The uyuni-server-attestation systemd service needs a database_password environment variable. This file has 640 permission, and cannot be shown users, but the environment is still exposed by systemd to non-privileged users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-22037 affects the uyuni-server-attestation systemd service where sensitive database credentials are exposed through environment variables despite restrictive file permissions. This represents a critical security flaw in the system's privilege management and information disclosure controls. The uyuni server platform, commonly used for systems management and monitoring, implements a systemd service that requires database authentication credentials to function properly. While the service configuration file containing the database_password variable is set with restrictive 640 permissions, which typically allows only the owner and group members to read the file, the environment variables themselves remain accessible to non-privileged users through systemd's process enumeration capabilities.
The technical flaw stems from systemd's handling of environment variables within service definitions where environment variables are inherited by child processes and remain accessible through process inspection mechanisms. This creates an information disclosure vulnerability that violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and principle of least information exposure. Attackers with non-privileged access can leverage tools such as ps command or /proc filesystem enumeration to extract environment variables from running processes, thereby obtaining database authentication credentials. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 which addresses "Information Exposure" and specifically targets the improper handling of sensitive data within process environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with direct access to database credentials that can be used for unauthorized database access, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation attacks. The exposure of database passwords through systemd environment variables creates an attack surface that bypasses traditional file permission controls, making it particularly dangerous for systems where uyuni-server-attestation services are running with elevated privileges. This vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to backend databases, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data breaches. The risk is compounded by the fact that environment variables are often not subject to the same access controls as regular files, creating a persistent security gap that remains undetected by traditional file permission checks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper environment variable isolation through systemd service configuration modifications that prevent sensitive data from being exposed in process environments. Organizations should modify the uyuni-server-attestation service definition to avoid passing database credentials as environment variables and instead utilize more secure credential management approaches such as systemd's built-in credential support or external secrets management solutions. The recommended approach involves configuring the service to use credential files with appropriate access controls rather than environment variables, aligning with security best practices and ATT&CK technique T1552.3 which addresses "Credentials in Files" and emphasizes the importance of secure credential storage and handling. Additionally, implementing proper service isolation and access controls through systemd's user and group management features can help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive process information. Regular security audits and privilege reviews should be conducted to ensure that no sensitive information is inadvertently exposed through process environments, and monitoring should be implemented to detect suspicious process enumeration activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.