CVE-2010-2157 in ARCserve Backup
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in CA ARCserve Backup r11.5 SP4, r12.0 SP2, and r12.5 SP1 on Windows allows local users to obtain sensitive information via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2157 represents a significant security weakness within CA ARCserve Backup software versions 11.5 SP4, 12.0 SP2, and 12.5 SP1 running on Windows operating systems. This unspecified flaw falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities, where local attackers can potentially access sensitive data through mechanisms that are not fully documented in the initial vulnerability report. The issue specifically affects the backup and recovery software ecosystem, which typically handles critical enterprise data and system configurations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls or improper privilege management within the ARCserve Backup application. Local users who have access to the system can exploit this weakness to extract confidential information that should remain protected. This type of vulnerability typically arises from inadequate input validation, improper error handling, or flawed security mechanisms that fail to properly restrict information flow between different privilege levels. The unspecified vectors suggest that the attack surface may involve multiple pathways or that the exact technical mechanism has not been fully disclosed in public records.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to enterprise environments that rely on CA ARCserve Backup for their data protection strategies. The ability for local users to obtain sensitive information can lead to unauthorized data access, potential system compromise, and exposure of critical business data. Organizations using these specific versions of ARCserve Backup may face increased risk of insider threats or compromised systems where local accounts are not properly secured. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can enable further attacks through the acquired knowledge of system internals, backup configurations, or administrative credentials.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which categorizes information exposure weaknesses, and represents a classic example of insufficient privilege checking or access control mechanisms. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain where initial access is gained through local exploitation, followed by information gathering that enables more sophisticated attacks. The ATT&CK framework would classify this under privilege escalation or credential access techniques, as local users can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches from CA Technologies, implementing proper access controls to limit local user privileges, and conducting comprehensive security audits of backup systems. Network segmentation and monitoring of backup server activities can help detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The recommended approach involves not only patch management but also establishing baseline security configurations for backup systems and implementing least privilege principles for local user accounts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing of backup infrastructure should become standard practice to identify similar weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors.