apache / apache/cloudstack

Failure to Initialize a Secure Transport Layer (TLS) During Out-of-the-Box Setup.

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#14,074 1 comment 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
component:management-server type:security
Dominant language
Java
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Description

### The required feature described as a wish

**Description:** TLS is not enabled by default on the Management server or System VMs. This insecure default persists until explicitly remediated by the administrator.

**Affected Component:** Management UI / API, SSVM, CPVM

**Impact:** An attacker with network access can trivially intercept or sniff management traffic, including administrator credentials (password and 2FA codes), session tokens, API keys, and sensitive configuration data.

**Steps to Reproduce:**

- Deploy ACS following the official documentation.
- Navigate to http://:8080/ (no HTTPS redirect occurs).
- Attempt to connect to https://:8443/ and confirm that the connection fails.
- Capture traffic with Wireshark or `tcpdump` during a login session.
- Observe that credentials and session tokens are transmitted in cleartext.

**Recommended Remediation:** Enable TLS by default during installation. A self-signed certificate can be automatically generated and configured without any additional effort on the user's part.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by following the official CloudStack deployment documentation and reproduce the HTTP access on port 8080 and failed HTTPS access on port 8443. Review the out-of-the-box setup for the Management UI/API, SSVM, and CPVM; done means TLS is enabled by default and management traffic is not exposed in cleartext.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
java
Domain
api, backend, security
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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