CVE-2024-6538 in OpenShift Container Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 11/25/2024
A flaw was found in OpenShift Console. A Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attack can happen if an attacker supplies all or part of a URL to the server to query. The server is considered to be in a privileged network position and can often reach exposed services that aren't readily available to clients due to network filtering. Leveraging such an attack vector, the attacker can have an impact on other services and potentially disclose information or have other nefarious effects on the system. The /api/dev-console/proxy/internet endpoint on the OpenShift Console allows authenticated users to have the console's pod perform arbitrary and fully controlled HTTP(s) requests. The full response to these requests is returned by the endpoint. While the name of this endpoint suggests the requests are only bound to the internet, no such checks are in place. An authenticated user can therefore ask the console to perform arbitrary HTTP requests from outside the cluster to a service inside the cluster.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-6538 represents a critical Server Side Request Forgery flaw within the OpenShift Console platform that fundamentally undermines the security boundaries of containerized environments. This issue resides in the /api/dev-console/proxy/internet endpoint which was designed to facilitate external connectivity but lacks proper validation mechanisms to prevent internal network access. The flaw allows authenticated users to leverage the console's privileged network position to make arbitrary HTTP requests to services within the cluster's internal network, effectively bypassing standard network segmentation controls. The security implications are particularly severe because the console pod operates with elevated privileges and can reach services that are normally isolated from external access through firewall rules and network policies.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and lack of proper access control enforcement within the proxy endpoint. When an authenticated user submits a request to the /api/dev-console/proxy/internet endpoint, the system processes this request without verifying whether the target URL falls within the intended internet boundaries. This design flaw creates a direct pathway for attackers to probe internal services, potentially exposing sensitive components such as database servers, internal APIs, or administrative interfaces that should remain protected behind network firewalls. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-918 under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically addressing Server-Side Request Forgery vulnerabilities where applications fail to properly validate and restrict outbound requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to conduct reconnaissance and potentially execute more sophisticated attacks within the cluster environment. An attacker with valid credentials can map internal network topology, identify running services, and potentially exploit other vulnerabilities in internal components that are normally protected from external access. This capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1016 which describes the use of network discovery to map the network environment, and T1566 which covers social engineering attacks that can be facilitated through information gathering. The ability to make arbitrary HTTP requests from within the cluster to internal services creates a significant attack surface that can be leveraged for lateral movement and privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-6538 must address both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement strict URL validation and access control enforcement on the affected endpoint, ensuring that all requests are properly filtered to prevent internal network access. The recommended approach includes implementing network segmentation controls that restrict the console pod's ability to access internal services, deploying proper firewall rules, and configuring network policies that isolate sensitive internal components. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing request whitelisting mechanisms that only permit specific domains or IP ranges to be accessed through the proxy endpoint. The fix should also include proper authentication and authorization checks that verify the user's intent and ensure that the requested operations align with the principle of least privilege. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the OpenShift platform and ensure that network security controls remain effective against evolving threat landscapes.