CVE-2024-4840 identifies a security vulnerability in the OpenStack Platform (RHOSP) director, a toolset used for deploying and managing Red Hat OpenStack Platform environments. The issue arises from the storage of plaintext passwords within log files generated by the director. Since these logs may be accessible to users or processes with read permissions, sensitive credentials can be exposed, undermining the confidentiality of the system. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5, categorized as medium severity. The attack vector is local or adjacent network (AV:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact affects confidentiality (C:H) but not integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). This means an attacker with limited access to the system or network segment could extract passwords from logs without needing to alter system state or cause downtime. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the presence of plaintext credentials in logs is a recognized security anti-pattern that can facilitate lateral movement or privilege escalation if logs are improperly secured. The vulnerability affects all versions of RHOSP director where this logging behavior occurs, though specific affected versions were not detailed. The flaw was published on May 13, 2024, and assigned by Red Hat. No official patches or mitigation links were provided at the time of publication, indicating that organizations should monitor vendor advisories closely.

For European organizations, the exposure of plaintext passwords in RHOSP director logs can lead to unauthorized access to cloud infrastructure components, potentially allowing attackers to move laterally within the environment or escalate privileges. This can compromise sensitive workloads, data, and services hosted on OpenStack clouds. Given the widespread use of OpenStack in European public sector, research institutions, and enterprises relying on private or hybrid clouds, the confidentiality breach could have significant operational and compliance repercussions, especially under GDPR regulations. The vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, but the indirect consequences of credential theft could lead to data breaches or service disruptions. Organizations with multi-tenant cloud environments or those managing critical infrastructure are particularly at risk. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate threat but should not lead to complacency, as attackers often develop exploits rapidly once vulnerabilities are disclosed.

European organizations should implement strict access controls on log files generated by the RHOSP director, ensuring only authorized personnel and processes can read these logs. Encrypting log files at rest and in transit can reduce the risk of credential exposure. Organizations should audit and monitor log access patterns for anomalies indicating unauthorized access. Applying vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available is critical. In the absence of patches, consider disabling or modifying logging configurations to avoid storing plaintext passwords, if feasible. Employing centralized log management solutions with enhanced security controls can also help. Additionally, rotating passwords and credentials stored or logged by the RHOSP director regularly will limit the window of exposure. Conducting security awareness training for administrators on the risks of plaintext credential storage and enforcing the principle of least privilege for system access further mitigates risk.