CVE-2023-50379: Apache Ambari Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-rghc-9fhx-h32m
Share
CVSS 8.8
CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-50379 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')) affecting Apache Ambari libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves authenticated users could perform command injection to perform rce. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.8.

CVE-2023-50379 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-50379
GHSA Identifier GHSA-rghc-9fhx-h32m
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Affected Product Apache Ambari
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2023-50379

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Apache Ambari dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.apache.ambari.contrib.views:ambari-contrib-views fixed: 2.7.8 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.ambari.contrib.views</groupId>
    <artifactId>ambari-contrib-views</artifactId>
    <version>2.7.8</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.ambari.contrib.views

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-50379, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.ambari.contrib.views

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apache Ambari in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.7.8), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.ambari.contrib.views command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. In Apache Ambari, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Malicious code injection in Apache Ambari in prior to 2.7.8. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.7.8, which fixes this issue. Impact: A Cluster Operator can manipulate the request by adding a malicious code injection and gain a root over the cluster main host.

CVE-2023-50379 Affected Apache Ambari Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.7.8
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.ambari.contrib.views:ambari-contrib-views
maven/org.apache.ambari.contrib.views/ambari-contrib-views
Maven
≥ 2.7.0
< 2.7.8
2.7.8

References

NVD — CVE-2023-50379 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-50379
Apache Ambari Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/ambari
lists.apache.org/thread/jglww6h6ngxp... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/jglww6h6ngxpo1r6r5fx7ff7z29lnvv8
Apache Ambari Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/02/27/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-50379?
CVE-2023-50379 is a security vulnerability in Apache Ambari involving authenticated users could perform command injection to perform RCE under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection').
Which Apache Ambari versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.7.8 across affected packages: org.apache.ambari.contrib.views:ambari-contrib-views.
What version fixes CVE-2023-50379?
Upgrading to 2.7.8 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is ambari-contrib-views affected?
Yes, org.apache.ambari.contrib.views:ambari-contrib-views is affected in releases prior to 2.7.8. Upgrade your dependency to 2.7.8 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-50379?
CVE-2023-50379 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-50379?
CVE-2023-50379 is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-50379?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.ambari.contrib.views'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-rghc-9fhx-h32m",
  "modified" : "2025-02-13T19:10:36Z",
  "published" : "2024-02-27T09:31:16Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-50379" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Ambari: authenticated users could perform command injection to perform RCE",
  "details" : "Malicious code injection in Apache Ambari in prior to 2.7.8. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.7.8, which fixes this issue.\n\nImpact:\nA Cluster Operator can manipulate the request by adding a malicious code injection and gain a root over the cluster main host.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.ambari.contrib.views:ambari-contrib-views"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.7.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.7.8"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-50379"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/ambari"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/jglww6h6ngxpo1r6r5fx7ff7z29lnvv8"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/02/27/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-03-01T20:49:42Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2024-02-27T09:15:36Z"
  }
}