CVE-2018-11804 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Apache Spark's convenience script 'build/mvn' may expose sensitive information during the build process.

Understanding CVE-2018-11804

Apache Spark's Maven-based build script 'build/mvn' could potentially leak sensitive data during compilation.

What is CVE-2018-11804?

The 'build/mvn' script in Apache Spark is designed to enhance compilation speed by running a zinc server. However, this server can be exploited to expose sensitive information from files accessible to the developer account.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11804

This vulnerability affects developers building Spark from source code but does not impact end users of Spark. It could lead to information disclosure.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11804

The technical aspects of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The 'build/mvn' script in Apache Spark allows a specially-crafted request to the zinc server, potentially revealing sensitive information.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Apache Spark
Vendor: Apache Software Foundation
Versions Affected: 1.3.0 (Maven)
Versions Less Than: 3.*

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can send a malicious request to the zinc server, exploiting its default configuration to access sensitive data.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent this vulnerability:

Immediate Steps to Take

Developers should review and restrict access to the zinc server.
Monitor and log server connections for suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Apache Spark to the latest version.
Implement network segmentation to limit server exposure.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Apache Software Foundation to fix the vulnerability.