CVE-2024-7259 in Virtualization
Summary
by MITRE • 09/26/2024
A flaw was found in oVirt. A user with administrator privileges, including users with the ReadOnlyAdmin permission, may be able to use browser developer tools to view Provider passwords in cleartext.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7259 resides within the oVirt virtualization management platform, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of credential protection mechanisms. This issue affects the web-based administrative interface where users with elevated privileges can exploit browser developer tools to access sensitive provider passwords in plaintext format. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of authentication credentials within its user interface, creating an unexpected exposure of confidential information that should remain protected.
This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the oVirt web console, allowing malicious actors with administrative access to bypass normal security controls through browser-based debugging tools. The flaw manifests when users with ReadOnlyAdmin permissions or full administrator privileges utilize browser developer consoles to inspect the application's runtime behavior and extract cleartext passwords from memory or DOM elements. This represents a direct violation of security principles that mandate credential confidentiality and proper access control enforcement. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-522, which addresses insufficiently protected credentials, and demonstrates poor separation of concerns in the application's security architecture.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-7259 extends beyond simple credential exposure, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to underlying virtualization infrastructure. An attacker with ReadOnlyAdmin permissions could leverage this vulnerability to obtain passwords for external providers, storage systems, or network components that oVirt manages, thereby compromising the entire virtualized environment. This flaw creates a significant risk for organizations relying on oVirt for mission-critical workloads, as it provides a path for lateral movement within the infrastructure and potential data exfiltration. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security practices outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers credentials from password stores, and T1078.004, covering valid accounts with elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of browser security restrictions, enhanced input validation, and proper credential handling within the application's web interface. Organizations should enforce strict access controls and privilege separation, ensuring that ReadOnlyAdmin users cannot access sensitive credential information even through browser developer tools. The recommended remediation involves implementing comprehensive output encoding, disabling unnecessary browser developer tools for administrative sessions, and establishing proper logging and monitoring for suspicious activities. Additionally, regular security assessments should validate that credential information is properly protected in all user interface components, and that browser-based debugging capabilities are appropriately restricted to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.