CVE-2005-0357 in Storedge Enterprise Backup Software
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Legato NetWorker, Sun Solstice Backup 6.0 and 6.1, and StorEdge Enterprise Backup 7.0 through 7.2 rely on AUTH_UNIX authentication, which relies on user ID for authentication and allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain privileges by spoofing a username or UID.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0357 represents a critical authentication flaw affecting several enterprise backup solutions including EMC Legato NetWorker, Sun Solstice Backup, and StorEdge Enterprise Backup versions 6.0 through 7.2. This issue stems from the implementation of AUTH_UNIX authentication mechanisms that fundamentally rely on user identification rather than robust authentication credentials. The vulnerability operates at the core of network security protocols where authentication tokens are derived from user identifiers, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking unauthorized system access.
The technical flaw manifests through the reliance on user ID spoofing as an authentication bypass mechanism. When systems employ AUTH_UNIX authentication, they validate access based on the authenticity of the user identifier rather than implementing proper credential verification. This design weakness allows remote attackers to exploit the system by simply spoofing a valid username or UID, effectively bypassing the authentication layer entirely. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the network level where attackers can manipulate authentication parameters without requiring legitimate credentials or access to system accounts. This flaw aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in system security implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access. Attackers exploiting this weakness can gain elevated privileges within backup systems, potentially compromising entire data infrastructure environments. Backup systems serve as critical repositories for organizational data, making unauthorized access particularly devastating. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform operations such as data exfiltration, system modification, or complete system takeover. These attacks can remain undetected for extended periods since they leverage legitimate authentication mechanisms, creating a significant challenge for security monitoring and incident response teams. The implications align with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts usage for persistence and privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected systems. Organizations should implement proper authentication mechanisms that go beyond simple user ID validation, including multi-factor authentication and certificate-based verification. Network administrators must disable or restrict access to backup services from untrusted networks and implement strict firewall rules to control communication paths. System updates and patches should be applied immediately to address the underlying authentication implementation issues, while security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process must include comprehensive security audits of all backup systems to identify similar authentication weaknesses and ensure proper implementation of industry-standard security controls.