CVE-2024-41107: Apache CloudStack Vulnerability Exposes User Accounts to Compromise

by do son · Published July 21, 2024 · Updated July 21, 2024

The Apache Software Foundation has issued a security advisory regarding a critical vulnerability (CVE-2024-41107) in its open-source cloud computing platform, Apache CloudStack. This flaw affects the Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) authentication mechanism, potentially allowing attackers to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access to user accounts and resources.

What’s the Issue?

CloudStack’s SAML authentication, while disabled by default, does not enforce signature checks when enabled. This oversight means that attackers can submit forged SAML responses without signatures, potentially granting them access to a targeted user’s account. Once inside, the attacker could gain control over the user’s cloud resources, leading to data breaches, service disruptions, or even complete system takeover.

Who’s Affected?

The CVE-2024-41107 vulnerability impacts a broad range of Apache CloudStack versions, including 4.5.0 through 4.18.2.1 and 4.19.0.0 through 4.19.0.2. Organizations and individuals utilizing SAML authentication in CloudStack are strongly advised to take immediate action.

Mitigation Steps

To mitigate the risk, Apache CloudStack users have two options:

Disable SAML Authentication: If SAML is not essential for your environment, disabling it is the most straightforward solution. This can be achieved by setting the “saml2.enabled” global setting to “false.”
Upgrade to Patched Versions: Apache has released security patches in versions 4.18.2.2 and 4.19.1.0 that address the vulnerability. Upgrading to either of these versions is highly recommended.

Urgency and Impact

The potential impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it could allow attackers to gain control over critical cloud infrastructure. Given the severity of the flaw, immediate action is crucial to protect systems and data from unauthorized access.

Recommendations

Organizations using Apache CloudStack should prioritize upgrading to the patched versions or disabling SAML authentication if it’s not required. It’s also important to review access logs for any suspicious activity that might indicate a successful exploitation of this vulnerability.