CVE-2018-16856 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in openstack-octavia versions before 2.0.2-5 and openstack-octavia-3.0.1-0.20181009115732 allows unrestricted access to log files, potentially exposing sensitive information like private keys.

Understanding CVE-2018-16856

This CVE affects the default installation of Red Hat OpenStack Platform Director.

What is CVE-2018-16856?

The vulnerability in openstack-octavia versions prior to 2.0.2-5 and openstack-octavia-3.0.1-0.20181009115732 results in log files being created with unrestricted access, leading to potential exposure of sensitive data.

The Impact of CVE-2018-16856

CVSS Score: 5.5 (Medium Severity)
Confidentiality Impact: High
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged

Technical Details of CVE-2018-16856

The technical aspects of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The issue allows all users to read log files, potentially revealing private keys and other sensitive information.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: openstack-octavia
Versions: 2.0.2-5, openstack-octavia-3.0.1-0.20181009115732

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by accessing the log files created by the affected versions, leading to the exposure of sensitive data.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2018-16856 with these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to the patched versions (2.0.2-5 or later).
Restrict access to log files containing sensitive information.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit log files for unauthorized access.
Implement encryption for sensitive data to prevent exposure.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by the vendor to address the vulnerability.