The CVE-2022-33891 vulnerability arises from the Apache Spark UI, which allows the enabling of Access Control Lists (ACLs) via the configuration option spark.acls.enable. This vulnerability allows attackers to impersonate users by providing arbitrary usernames, leading to unauthorized access and arbitrary command execution on the server running Spark. The severity of this vulnerability is classified as high, with a CVSS score of 8.8, indicating significant risk to organizations.
Risk to organizations includes the potential for unauthorized command execution, which could lead to data breaches or system compromises. This vulnerability affects Apache Spark versions 3.0.3 and earlier, as well as versions 3.1.1 to 3.1.2 and 3.2.0 to 3.2.1. Given the ability for an attacker to execute commands as the Spark user, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Exploitation status indicates that this vulnerability has known exploit capabilities, and it has been included in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Organizations are advised to address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle due to its high threat level.
The urgency for defenders is high, given that the potential impact of this vulnerability can lead to significant operational disruptions. Prompt remediation is crucial to safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining operational integrity.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary shell commands due to improper validation in the Apache Spark UI's ACL implementation. The vulnerability is classified as command injection under CWE-78. The CVSS score of 8.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, indicating that successful exploitation could allow unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Affected products include Apache Spark, specifically versions 3.0.3 and earlier, versions 3.1.1 to 3.1.2, and versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.1. The vulnerability was published on July 18, 2022.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2022-33891 is the lack of proper user input validation within the Spark UI when ACLs are enabled. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through a network-based attack vector, requiring only low privileges to initiate the attack. The attack complexity is low and does not require any user interaction, making it highly exploitable.
The impact of successful exploitation includes high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, allowing attackers to execute commands as the Spark user, potentially leading to a complete system compromise.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations deploying Apache Spark in environments with enabled ACLs face significant risks due to this vulnerability. The potential for unauthorized command execution poses a threat not only to data integrity but also to the overall infrastructure security. Given the potential blast radius, organizations should consider this vulnerability a critical issue that requires immediate attention.
With an EPSS score of 0.935, this vulnerability falls within the 99.8th percentile, indicating a very high likelihood of exploitation in the wild. Organizations must act swiftly to address this issue as part of their security posture.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerable versions of Apache Spark include all versions prior to vendor patch, specifically 3.0.3 and earlier, 3.1.1 to 3.1.2, and 3.2.0 to 3.2.1.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2022-33891, organizations must apply the latest patches released by Apache. The vendor has specified necessary updates to address this command injection vulnerability effectively.
Organizations should validate remediation through penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring systems for potential exploitation attempts is crucial. Security teams should look for log indicators of unusual command execution attempts and behavioral anomalies in user activity. Network signatures that identify exploit patterns can also help detect potential attacks.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation across web interfaces. As organizations increasingly rely on Apache Spark for data processing, the prevalence of such vulnerabilities underlines the need for continuous security assessment.
Security teams should enhance awareness of command injection vulnerabilities and implement protective measures. For additional insights on securing Apache environments, organizations can refer to the following resources: penetration testing methodology, vulnerability management program design, and API penetration testing best practices.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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