CVE-2018-16848 : Security Advisory and Response

OpenStack Mistral, in versions up to and including 7.0.3, is susceptible to a Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability when processing specially crafted workflow definition YAML files.

Understanding CVE-2018-16848

OpenStack Mistral is affected by a vulnerability that can lead to resource exhaustion and a denial of service condition.

What is CVE-2018-16848?

CVE-2018-16848 is a vulnerability in OpenStack Mistral versions up to and including 7.0.3 that allows an attacker to trigger a DoS condition by submitting a maliciously crafted workflow definition YAML file.

The Impact of CVE-2018-16848

The vulnerability can result in resource depletion, causing a denial of service, impacting the availability of the OpenStack Mistral service.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-16848

OpenStack Mistral vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

A specially crafted workflow definition YAML file with nested anchors can trigger resource exhaustion, leading to a DoS condition.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: OpenStack Mistral
Versions affected: up to and including 7.0.3

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by submitting a deliberately structured workflow definition YAML file containing nested anchors.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2018-16848 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the vendor-provided patch or update to a non-vulnerable version.
Monitor system resources for any unusual activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the attack surface.
Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Update OpenStack Mistral to version 7.0.4 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.