CVE-2026-59657 in CloudStack
Summary
by MITRE • 08/21/2026
Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information vulnerability in Apache CloudStack with AsyncJob storage in the database.
This issue affects Apache CloudStack: from 4.0.0 through 4.20.3.0 and from 4.21.0.0 through 4.22.1.0.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.20.3.1 or 4.22.1.1 or later, which fixes the issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2026
The vulnerability identified in Apache CloudStack involves the cleartext storage of sensitive information within the AsyncJob database table. This security flaw persists across multiple versions of the software, specifically affecting releases from version 4.0.0 through 4.20.3.0 and from 4.21.0.0 through 4.22.1.0. The core issue lies in how asynchronous job data is persisted to the underlying database without adequate encryption or obfuscation mechanisms for sensitive fields. In a cloud infrastructure management platform like CloudStack, async jobs often contain metadata related to user actions, API calls, and system configurations that may include credentials, tokens, or other confidential details required for executing tasks across virtual machines and network resources.
From a technical perspective, the flaw represents a failure to implement proper data protection controls at rest. When an asynchronous job is created, it is stored in the database with its payload intact and readable by anyone who has access to the database schema or direct read permissions on the table. This means that if an attacker gains unauthorized access to the CloudStack management server's database through SQL injection, privilege escalation, or physical theft of storage media, they can extract these sensitive values directly from the AsyncJob records. The lack of encryption ensures that even basic database queries reveal information that should be protected under standard security practices for cloud environments handling multi-tenant workloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, particularly in shared hosting environments or organizations with strict compliance requirements. Attackers who exploit this flaw can harvest authentication tokens, API keys, or other secrets embedded within job parameters to impersonate users, escalate privileges, or access additional resources beyond their authorized scope. This directly compromises the confidentiality and integrity of the cloud infrastructure managed by Apache CloudStack. Furthermore, such exposure violates fundamental principles of data privacy and security hygiene, potentially leading to regulatory non-compliance in sectors governed by standards like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS where sensitive data must be encrypted at rest.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information, which categorizes the failure to protect sensitive data using encryption or hashing mechanisms before storage. It also relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as stolen credentials from job logs can be used for lateral movement and persistence within the environment. The risk is exacerbated by the fact that asynchronous jobs are often retained in databases for auditing purposes, meaning historical records containing potentially expired but still exploitable secrets remain accessible indefinitely unless manually purged or encrypted.
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations running affected versions of Apache CloudStack must upgrade to version 4.20.3.1, 4.22.1.1, or any later release where the issue has been resolved. These updated versions implement proper encryption for sensitive fields within the AsyncJob table, ensuring that even if database access is compromised, the extracted data remains unintelligible without the appropriate decryption keys. Additionally, administrators should review their current deployment configurations to ensure that database access controls are strictly enforced, limiting read permissions only to necessary service accounts and auditing any existing records for potential exposure of sensitive information prior to upgrading. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on data storage practices can further help identify similar weaknesses in other components of the management stack.