CVE-2025-23196 Overview
CVE-2025-23196 is a command injection vulnerability in the Apache Ambari Alert Definition feature. The flaw exists in how Ambari processes the script filename field when defining alert scripts. Ambari passes user-supplied input directly to sh -c, allowing shell metacharacter interpretation. Authenticated users can inject arbitrary shell commands that execute on the Ambari server. The issue is tracked under CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command. Apache resolved the vulnerability in the latest Ambari releases.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can achieve remote code execution on the Ambari server, compromising the management plane for Hadoop clusters and any downstream services Ambari controls.
Affected Products
- Apache Ambari (versions prior to the fixed release)
- Hadoop clusters managed through vulnerable Ambari installations
- Ambari Alert Definition feature
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-21 - CVE CVE-2025-23196 published to NVD
- 2025-01-21 - Apache disclosed the issue on the Apache mailing list and oss-security
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-23196
Vulnerability Analysis
Apache Ambari provides a web-based interface for provisioning, managing, and monitoring Hadoop clusters. The Alert Definition feature lets administrators register custom monitoring scripts that Ambari executes at scheduled intervals. The script filename field accepts user-supplied input that is concatenated into a shell command and passed to sh -c for execution.
Because the input reaches sh -c without sanitization or argument separation, an attacker can embed shell metacharacters such as ;, &&, |, or backticks. The shell parses these characters and executes attacker-controlled commands as the Ambari service account. The vulnerability requires authenticated access but no user interaction, and it is exploitable over the network.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements in a command string [CWE-77]. Ambari treats the alert script filename as a trusted string and inlines it into a shell invocation. Safe execution would require passing the filename as a separate argv element to execve rather than concatenating it into a shell command interpreted by sh -c.
Attack Vector
An attacker authenticates to Ambari with any account that holds permission to create or modify alert definitions. The attacker submits an alert definition where the script filename field contains shell metacharacters followed by an arbitrary command payload. When Ambari triggers the alert, the shell evaluates the injected commands and executes them under the Ambari server's privileges. The resulting code execution grants the attacker control over cluster configuration, credentials stored on the Ambari host, and integrated Hadoop components.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-23196
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by the Ambari server process, particularly shells (sh, bash) invoking utilities like curl, wget, nc, or python
- Newly created or modified alert definitions containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &&, backticks, $()) in the script filename field
- Outbound network connections from the Ambari host to untrusted addresses following alert execution
- Unexpected file writes under Ambari working directories or /tmp correlated with alert trigger times
Detection Strategies
- Audit the Ambari REST API for POST and PUT requests to /api/v1/clusters/{cluster}/alert_definitions containing suspicious characters in the script path field
- Enable process auditing (auditd, execve) on Ambari servers and alert on sh -c invocations originating from the Ambari Java process
- Correlate alert-definition changes with subsequent process creation events to identify exploitation attempts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward Ambari application logs and OS-level process telemetry to a centralized analytics platform for retrospective hunting
- Baseline expected alert definition contents and alert on deviations introduced by non-administrative accounts
- Monitor authentication logs for unusual access patterns to accounts with alert management privileges
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-23196
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Apache Ambari to the latest patched release as published on the Apache Ambari project page
- Review all existing alert definitions and remove any containing shell metacharacters in the script filename field
- Restrict Ambari user permissions so that only trusted administrators can create or modify alert definitions
- Rotate credentials stored on or accessible from the Ambari server if compromise is suspected
Patch Information
The Apache Ambari project addressed CVE-2025-23196 in the latest Ambari versions. Refer to the Apache mailing list advisory and the oss-security disclosure for version-specific guidance and patch references.
Workarounds
- Place the Ambari management interface behind a VPN or restricted network segment to limit authenticated attack surface
- Apply principle-of-least-privilege role assignments so non-administrative roles cannot create alert definitions
- Run the Ambari server under a dedicated low-privilege service account to limit blast radius of any successful exploitation
- Enable host-based monitoring on Ambari servers to detect shell invocations spawned by the Ambari process
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
