CVE-2024-22278 in Harbor
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2024
Incorrect user permission validation in Harbor <v2.9.5 and Harbor <v2.10.3 allows authenticated users to modify configurations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-22278 represents a critical authorization flaw in the Harbor container registry platform that affects versions prior to v2.9.5 and v2.10.3. This issue stems from inadequate user permission validation mechanisms that permit authenticated users to perform configuration modifications beyond their designated access levels. The flaw exists within Harbor's access control system where proper validation checks fail to adequately verify user privileges before allowing configuration changes, creating a pathway for unauthorized modifications that could compromise the entire registry infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through insufficient input validation and privilege checking mechanisms within Harbor's administrative interfaces. When authenticated users attempt to modify registry configurations, the system fails to properly authenticate and authorize these actions based on the user's role and permissions. This weakness allows users with lower privilege levels to bypass normal access controls and execute configuration changes that should only be available to administrators or users with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically impacts Harbor's configuration management subsystem where user requests for modifications are processed without adequate verification of the requesting user's authorization level.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant security implications for organizations relying on Harbor for container image management and deployment. An attacker who gains access to any authenticated user account could potentially modify critical registry settings including repository permissions, user access controls, and system configurations that could lead to unauthorized access to container images, data exfiltration, or complete compromise of the container registry environment. The impact extends beyond simple configuration changes as these modifications could enable attackers to establish persistent access points, alter access controls for other users, or manipulate registry behavior to hide malicious activities.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization issues in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.002 for spearphishing via social media within the context of privilege escalation attacks. Organizations should immediately implement the recommended mitigations including upgrading to Harbor versions v2.9.5 or v2.10.3 where the permission validation has been properly addressed. Additional protective measures should include implementing network segmentation, monitoring user access patterns, and conducting regular privilege audits to detect unauthorized configuration changes. Security teams should also review and enforce principle of least privilege access controls to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in their container registry environments.