CVE-2011-1672 in KACE K2000 Systems Deployment Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
The Dell KACE K2000 Systems Deployment Appliance 3.3.36822 and earlier contains a peinst CIFS share, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by reading the (1) unattend.xml or (2) sysprep.inf file, as demonstrated by reading a password.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2025
The Dell KACE K2000 Systems Deployment Appliance represents a critical infrastructure component used for automated system deployment and management in enterprise environments. This appliance serves as a centralized platform for deploying operating systems and managing hardware configurations across multiple devices within an organization. The vulnerability identified in version 3.3.36822 and earlier versions stems from improper configuration of the CIFS (Common Internet File System) share functionality that is integral to the appliance's deployment capabilities. The affected system exposes sensitive configuration files through an unsecured file share, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this deployment solution.
The technical flaw manifests through the exposure of two critical system files: unattend.xml and sysprep.inf. These files contain sensitive information required for automated system deployment processes, including administrative passwords and system configuration parameters. The vulnerability specifically relates to the improper access control configuration of the CIFS share, which allows remote attackers to access these files without authentication. The unattend.xml file typically contains credentials and deployment settings that are automatically processed during system installation, while sysprep.inf holds similar configuration data used for system preparation and customization. Both files are standard components in Microsoft Windows deployment scenarios and contain information that could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems and potentially escalate privileges within the network environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with credentials that can be leveraged for further compromise. An attacker who successfully reads these files can obtain administrative passwords and deployment configurations, potentially enabling them to deploy malicious software, modify system configurations, or gain access to additional network resources. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the deployment appliance itself, which often operates with elevated privileges and has access to sensitive network infrastructure. Organizations using this appliance may experience unauthorized system deployments, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network. The exposure of these files could also violate compliance requirements for data protection and access control, particularly in regulated environments where system configuration data must remain secure.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Dell KACE K2000 appliance where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should also review and restrict CIFS share access controls to ensure that sensitive files are not exposed to unauthorized users. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Disclosure) and CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) categories, representing a clear failure in access control mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1005 (Data from Local System) tactics, as attackers can leverage legitimate credentials obtained through information disclosure to maintain persistence and access sensitive data. Network segmentation and monitoring of CIFS traffic should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that deployment appliances are properly configured and updated to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other systems within the organization's infrastructure.