CVE-2022-26779
📋 TL;DR
Apache CloudStack prior to 4.16.1.0 uses insecure random number generation for project invitation tokens, allowing attackers with knowledge of project IDs to brute-force invitation tokens and potentially join projects without authorization. This affects CloudStack deployments where project invitations are enabled and sent via email. Attackers must be existing authorized users with knowledge of project IDs.
💻 Affected Systems
- Apache CloudStack
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Unauthorized users gain access to sensitive project resources, potentially compromising project data, configurations, or performing privilege escalation within the CloudStack environment.
Likely Case
Attackers with insider knowledge join projects they shouldn't have access to, potentially accessing project-specific resources or configurations.
If Mitigated
Limited impact due to multiple required conditions (feature disabled by default, need for project ID knowledge, existing user requirement).
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires multiple conditions: project invitations enabled, knowledge of project ID, attacker must be existing authorized user, and ability to brute-force tokens before legitimate acceptance.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 4.16.1.0 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://lists.apache.org/thread/dmm07b1cyosovqr12ddhkko501p11h2h
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Backup your CloudStack configuration and database. 2. Upgrade to Apache CloudStack 4.16.1.0 or later. 3. Restart CloudStack management server and affected services. 4. Verify the upgrade completed successfully.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Project Invitations
allDisable the project invitation feature to prevent exploitation entirely
Set project.invite.required = false in CloudStack configuration
Require Additional Authentication
allConfigure project invitations to require additional authentication beyond email-only invitations
Configure project invitations to require user account association rather than email-only invitations
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable project invitation feature entirely in CloudStack configuration
- Implement strict access controls and monitoring for project invitation usage
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check CloudStack version: if version is below 4.16.1.0 and project invitations are enabled, system is vulnerableCheck Version:
Check CloudStack management server version via web UI or API, or examine installation logsVerify Fix Applied:
Verify CloudStack version is 4.16.1.0 or later and check that project invitation tokens are now generated using secure random number generation📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Multiple failed project invitation attempts from same user
- Unusual project invitation acceptance patterns
- Project invitations accepted from unexpected IP addresses
Network Indicators:
- Unusual API calls to project invitation endpoints
- Bursts of authentication attempts to invitation endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="cloudstack" AND (event="project.invite.*" OR message="*invitation*") AND (status="failed" OR count > threshold)🔗 References
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/03/15/1
- https://github.com/JLLeitschuh/security-research/security/advisories/GHSA-vpcc-9rh2-8jfp
- https://lists.apache.org/thread/dmm07b1cyosovqr12ddhkko501p11h2h
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/03/15/1
- https://github.com/JLLeitschuh/security-research/security/advisories/GHSA-vpcc-9rh2-8jfp
- https://lists.apache.org/thread/dmm07b1cyosovqr12ddhkko501p11h2h
