CVE-2023-3637 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE record details a vulnerability related to the unrestricted creation of security groups in Red Hat OpenStack Platform versions 13, 16.1, 16.2, 17.0, and 17.1, specifically within the openstack-neutron component. The vulnerability allows a remote authenticated user to query a list of security groups for an invalid project, leading to uncontrolled resource consumption and potentially resulting in a denial of service.

Understanding CVE-2023-3637

This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2023-3637, highlighting the vulnerability, its impact, technical details, affected systems, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-3637?

CVE-2023-3637 is characterized by an uncontrolled resource consumption flaw in openstack-neutron, a component of Red Hat OpenStack Platform. The vulnerability permits remote authenticated users to query a list of security groups for an invalid project, bypassing user quotas and potentially causing a denial of service if exploited by a malicious actor.

The Impact of CVE-2023-3637

The impact of this vulnerability lies in the ability for authenticated users to create an excessive number of requests that can overwhelm the system, resulting in a denial of service scenario. This unrestricted creation of security groups can lead to resource exhaustion, affecting the availability of services.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-3637

This section provides insight into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-3637, including vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in openstack-neutron allows authenticated users to query security groups for an invalid project, leading to the consumption of resources beyond permitted quotas. This uncontrolled resource consumption can be exploited to disrupt services through a denial of service attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

Red Hat OpenStack Platform versions 13, 16.1, 16.2, 17.0, and 17.1 are affected by CVE-2023-3637 when utilizing the openstack-neutron component. While some versions remain unaffected, others are vulnerable to this security issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the vulnerability in openstack-neutron, remote authenticated users can increase resource consumption by querying security groups for an invalid project. This exploitation tactic enables the circumvention of user quotas, potentially leading to service disruptions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-3637, immediate steps, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Administrators should limit access to the vulnerable component, monitor resource consumption, and apply relevant security patches provided by Red Hat. Additionally, implementing network-level defenses and access controls can help mitigate the impact of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security assessments, user training on best practices, and ongoing monitoring of system resources are essential long-term security measures to safeguard against similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Red Hat has issued patches and updates to address CVE-2023-3637 in the affected versions of the OpenStack Platform. It is imperative for organizations to promptly apply these patches to secure their systems and prevent potential exploitation of this vulnerability.