apache / apache/cloudstack

[Hardening] F-10: No 2FA Verification Required Before Destructive or Sensitive Operations.

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type:new-feature
Dominant language
Java
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Description

### The required feature described as a wish

**Description:** CloudStack does not require users to re-verify their identity (step-up authentication) before performing high-impact operations such as deleting or expunging resources or resetting and revealing secrets, such as API keys of other user accounts. Once a user is authenticated for a session, all actions are permitted without additional verification.

**Affected Components:** Management UI

**Impact:** If a valid user session is hijacked (e.g., through XSS, session token theft, or an unattended workstation), an attacker can immediately perform irreversible, destructive actions or extract sensitive credentials without any additional authentication barrier. Requiring TOTP verification as a step-up factor would block this attack vector, whereas a Static PIN would not, as it offers no time-bound or replay-resistant protection.

**Steps to Reproduce:**
- Log in to the CloudStack Management UI as a Root Admin.
- Navigate to Compute > Instances > Select any instance > Click on Delete.
- Observe that the action proceeds to a confirmation dialog without any prompt for TOTP verification.

**Recommended Remediation:** Implement step-up authentication for a defined list of sensitive or destructive operations. Require the user to enter their current TOTP code before executing the operation. Log all step-up authentication events for auditing.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by reviewing the CloudStack Management UI flow described in the reproduction steps, beginning with instance deletion and the existing confirmation dialog. Define the sensitive and destructive operations covered, then verify that current TOTP verification is required before execution and that step-up events are logged for auditing.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
authentication, frontend, security
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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