CVE-2024-6174
Description
An access permissions flaw was found in cloud-init. When a non-x86 platform is detected, cloud-init grants root access to a hardcoded URL with a local IP address, which creates a security exposure.
Statement
This vulnerability is Important rather than Moderate because it directly impacts the security boundary between a system’s local environment and potentially untrusted network metadata sources. On non-x86 platforms, the fallback to platform enumeration with default datasource scanning could allow cloud-init to treat a malicious or spoofed local metadata service as authoritative, granting root-level execution of arbitrary user-data or scripts during early boot. Since cloud-init runs before most security controls are active, exploitation would provide persistent and unrestricted system compromise with no user interaction.
Mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 8.8 | N/A | 8.8 |
| Attack Vector | Adjacent Network | N/A | Adjacent Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | None | N/A | None |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | High | N/A | High |
| Integrity Impact | High | N/A | High |
| Availability Impact | High | N/A | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Confidentiality,Integrity
Technical Impact: Read Application Data; Modify Application Data
Frequently Asked Questions
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