CVE-2017-18191 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

OpenStack Nova versions 15.x through 15.1.0 and 16.x through 16.1.1 are affected by a vulnerability that allows attackers to gain access to encrypted volumes, potentially leading to a denial of service attack and data loss.

Understanding CVE-2017-18191

This CVE involves a security issue in OpenStack Nova that impacts systems supporting encrypted volumes.

What is CVE-2017-18191?

An attacker can exploit a flaw in OpenStack Nova to access the raw volume of detached and reattached encrypted volumes, potentially causing a denial of service attack on the compute host.

The Impact of CVE-2017-18191

Attackers can modify the LUKS header of encrypted volumes, leading to a denial of service attack and potential data loss.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-18191

OpenStack Nova vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

Detaching and reattaching encrypted volumes allows attackers to access raw volumes and manipulate LUKS headers.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions 15.x through 15.1.0 and 16.x through 16.1.1 of OpenStack Nova.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker detaches and reattaches encrypted volumes to gain access to raw volume and modify LUKS header.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2017-18191.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update OpenStack Nova to patched versions.
Monitor for any unauthorized volume access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update security configurations.
Implement encryption key management best practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by OpenStack Nova to address the vulnerability.