CVE-2024-29006 in CloudStack
Summary
by MITRE • 04/04/2024
By default the CloudStack management server honours the x-forwarded-for HTTP header and logs it as the source IP of an API request. This could lead to authentication bypass and other operational problems should an attacker decide to spoof their IP address this way. Users are recommended to upgrade to CloudStack version 4.18.1.1 or 4.19.0.1, which fixes this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2024-29006 represents a critical security flaw in Apache CloudStack management servers that stems from improper handling of HTTP headers. This issue specifically affects the way the system processes the x-forwarded-for header, which is commonly used in web applications to identify the original IP address of a client connecting through an HTTP proxy or load balancer. The CloudStack management server, by default, accepts this header value and treats it as the legitimate source IP address for API requests, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests in the server's trust model where it blindly accepts the x-forwarded-for header without proper validation or authentication of the header's legitimacy. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of input validation and source address verification. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request with a spoofed x-forwarded-for header containing their own IP address, the CloudStack management server will log this fabricated address as the source of the API request. This creates a dangerous scenario where unauthorized users can potentially bypass authentication mechanisms or appear to originate from trusted IP addresses, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive management functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass to encompass broader security implications for cloud infrastructure management. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to management interfaces, manipulate cloud resources, or conduct reconnaissance activities while appearing to originate from legitimate sources. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that deploy CloudStack behind load balancers or reverse proxies where the x-forwarded-for header is naturally present, making it a common attack vector in production environments. This issue can result in complete compromise of cloud management capabilities and potentially lead to data breaches or service disruptions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the recommended mitigation strategy of upgrading to CloudStack versions 4.18.1.1 or 4.19.0.1, which contain the necessary fixes to address the header validation issue. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which covers improper access control, and represents a specific instance of insecure input handling in web applications. From an attack perspective, this flaw maps to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and initial access phases, where adversaries exploit header manipulation to bypass security controls. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging controls to detect suspicious header values and establish network-level restrictions to prevent unauthorized access to management interfaces. The fix implemented in the newer versions addresses the root cause by either disabling the automatic acceptance of x-forwarded-for headers or implementing proper validation mechanisms to ensure header integrity before trusting the source IP address information.