CVE-2012-1841 in Powervault Ml6020
Summary
by MITRE
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in logShow.htm on the Quantum Scalar i500 tape library with firmware before i7.0.3 (604G.GS00100), also distributed as the Dell ML6000 tape library with firmware before A20-00 (590G.GS00100), allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a full pathname in the file parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The CVE-2012-1841 vulnerability represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw in the Quantum Scalar i500 tape library firmware, specifically affecting versions prior to i7.0.3 and also impacting the Dell ML6000 tape library with firmware before A20-00. This vulnerability exists within the logShow.htm web interface component and demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and access control mechanisms. The flaw allows remote attackers to bypass normal file access restrictions and retrieve arbitrary files from the system by manipulating the file parameter with full pathnames. This represents a severe security weakness that directly violates the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input in the file parameter of the logShow.htm interface. When an attacker submits a malicious pathname through the file parameter, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before processing it, enabling attackers to traverse the file system hierarchy and access files outside the intended directory structure. This type of vulnerability is classified as a CWE-22 Path Traversal vulnerability, which occurs when applications allow untrusted input to influence file system operations without proper validation. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely, making it particularly dangerous as it does not require physical access or local privileges to exploit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on tape library systems for data backup and archival operations. Attackers could potentially access sensitive configuration files, log files containing system information, authentication credentials, or other confidential data stored within the tape library's file system. This could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to backup data that may contain critical business information or personal data. The vulnerability affects enterprise storage infrastructure and could result in compliance violations under data protection regulations such as gdpr, hipaa, or pci dss standards. Organizations may face substantial financial and reputational damage from such an exposure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates to versions i7.0.3 or later for Quantum Scalar i500 systems and A20-00 or later for Dell ML6000 systems, which contain the necessary patches to address the path traversal flaw. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of the tape library web interfaces to trusted networks only. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their storage infrastructure and implement proper input validation controls. The remediation aligns with mitre att&ck tactic TA0005 (defense evasion) and technique T1210 (exploitation of remote services) as attackers would exploit this vulnerability to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, and organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against similar path traversal attacks.