CVE-2006-4773 in Storedge 6130 Arrays
Summary
by MITRE
Sun StorEdge 6130 Array Controllers with firmware 06.12.10.11 and earlier allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (controller reboot) via a flood of traffic on the LAN.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4773 affects Sun StorEdge 6130 Array Controllers running firmware versions 06.12.10.11 and earlier, representing a significant denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely. This flaw resides within the network traffic handling mechanisms of the storage array controller, specifically manifesting when the system encounters an excessive volume of traffic on the local area network interface. The vulnerability operates through a traffic flooding attack that overwhelms the controller's ability to process legitimate network requests, ultimately forcing the system to reboot and rendering the storage array unavailable to authorized users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic resource exhaustion attack pattern where the controller's network stack fails to properly manage incoming traffic rates and packet processing. When subjected to a flood of network traffic, the system's processing capabilities become saturated, leading to a complete system reboot as a protective mechanism. This behavior aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes resource exhaustion vulnerabilities as a fundamental weakness in software design that can lead to system instability and service disruption. The controller's failure to implement adequate traffic rate limiting or packet filtering mechanisms creates an exploitable condition that remote attackers can leverage without requiring authentication or elevated privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a critical risk to enterprise storage environments that depend on the Sun StorEdge 6130 arrays for data availability and performance. The remote nature of the attack means that unauthorized parties can potentially disrupt storage services from outside the network perimeter, creating significant business continuity concerns. The controller reboot resulting from this attack effectively eliminates access to all data stored on the array until manual intervention occurs to restart the system. This vulnerability can be particularly devastating in mission-critical environments where storage availability is paramount, as the impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potential data loss or application downtime.
The attack vector for this vulnerability follows standard network-based exploitation patterns and aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1498 tactic for Network Denial of Service. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can leverage this weakness from any location with network access to the affected controller's LAN interface, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed storage systems. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation reduces the attack complexity and increases the likelihood of successful exploitation. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to this vulnerability while awaiting firmware updates that address the underlying traffic handling issues.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4773 should prioritize immediate firmware upgrades to versions that address the traffic flooding vulnerability, as this represents the most effective long-term solution. Network administrators should implement rate limiting and traffic shaping policies on the LAN interfaces to prevent traffic flooding attacks from overwhelming the controller's processing capabilities. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify unusual traffic patterns may help detect exploitation attempts before they succeed in causing system reboots. The implementation of redundant storage controllers and proper backup procedures can help minimize the business impact when this vulnerability is exploited, ensuring that critical data remains accessible during recovery operations. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary network services and implementing strict firewall rules to limit access to the affected controllers to only trusted network segments.