CVE-2017-16818 : Security Advisory and Response

In versions 12.1.0 to 12.2.1 of Ceph, a vulnerability in the RADOS Gateway (RGW) allows remote authenticated users to disrupt the service, leading to an assertion failure and application termination when an invalid profile is submitted to the admin API.

Understanding CVE-2017-16818

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the RADOS Gateway (RGW) component of Ceph, impacting versions 12.1.0 to 12.2.1.

What is CVE-2017-16818?

CVE-2017-16818 is a security flaw in Ceph's RADOS Gateway (RGW) that enables remote authenticated users with "full" privileges to cause a denial of service by submitting an invalid profile to the admin API.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16818

The vulnerability allows attackers to disrupt the service, triggering an assertion failure and application termination. This can lead to service downtime and potential data loss.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16818

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Ceph's RADOS Gateway (RGW) arises from the mishandling of invalid profiles submitted to the admin API by users with "full" privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions 12.1.0 to 12.2.1 of Ceph are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with remote authenticated access and "full" privileges can exploit this vulnerability by submitting an invalid profile to the admin API.
The affected code files include rgw/rgw_iam_policy.cc, rgw/rgw_basic_types.h, and rgw/rgw_iam_types.h.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-16818, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the patches provided by Ceph to fix the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict user privileges to minimize the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Ceph to the latest versions to ensure all security patches are applied.
Conduct security training for users to prevent the submission of invalid profiles.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Ceph and promptly apply any released patches to secure your systems.