CVE-2006-3892 in NetWorker
Summary
by MITRE
The Management Console server in EMC NetWorker (formerly Legato NetWorker) 7.3.2 before Jumbo Update 1 uses weak authentication, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3892 affects EMC NetWorker Management Console server version 7.3.2 prior to Jumbo Update 1, representing a critical authentication weakness that exposes the system to remote command execution attacks. This flaw resides within the server component responsible for administrative management of the NetWorker environment, which is designed to provide centralized control over backup and recovery operations across distributed systems. The Management Console serves as the primary interface for system administrators to configure policies, monitor operations, and manage backup schedules, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to enterprise backup infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the use of weak authentication mechanisms within the Management Console server. Specifically, the system fails to implement robust authentication protocols that would prevent unauthorized users from establishing administrative sessions. This weakness allows remote attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures and directly execute arbitrary commands on the affected server. The vulnerability does not require authentication for initial access, meaning that any remote user who can reach the Management Console service can potentially gain administrative privileges and execute malicious code with the same permissions as legitimate administrators.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a severe threat to enterprise backup environments since it allows attackers to completely compromise the management infrastructure. Once exploited, attackers can modify backup policies, delete backup data, interfere with backup operations, or even use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The Management Console server typically operates with elevated privileges and has access to sensitive backup data, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous. Organizations using this version of NetWorker would face potential data loss, operational disruption, and compliance violations if attackers successfully exploited this vulnerability.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which describes improper authentication issues in software systems, and represents a classic example of how weak authentication mechanisms can lead to complete system compromise. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1059 for command and script execution. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the Management Console typically operates on standard network ports and may be accessible from untrusted networks, making it vulnerable to exploitation by attackers who simply need to connect to the service. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the Jumbo Update 1 patch that addresses this authentication weakness, restricting network access to the Management Console service, and implementing additional network segmentation controls to limit exposure of critical management infrastructure.