CVE-2012-1844 in Powervault Ml6020
Summary
by MITRE
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) and the IBM TS3310 tape library with firmware before R6C (606G.GS001), uses default passwords for unspecified user accounts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1844 represents a critical security weakness in tape library systems manufactured by Quantum, Dell, and IBM. This flaw affects specific firmware versions of the Quantum Scalar i500, Dell ML6000, and IBM TS3310 tape library models, where default passwords remain unchanged for unspecified user accounts. The vulnerability stems from poor security configuration practices where manufacturers pre-configure systems with default credentials that are not properly secured or removed during deployment. This issue creates a significant attack surface that allows unauthorized access to critical data storage infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the use of default authentication credentials that persist across multiple vendor implementations, suggesting a systemic security flaw in how these enterprise storage devices handle initial security configuration. The unspecified user accounts indicate that the default credentials are not limited to a single administrative interface but may extend to multiple access points within the tape library management system. Attackers can exploit this weakness through various unknown vectors that leverage these default credentials to gain unauthorized access to the tape library's management interfaces and potentially the stored data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data compromise, system manipulation, and disruption of critical backup operations. Tape libraries serve as essential components in enterprise data protection strategies, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to gain access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple vendors suggests that organizations using these devices may face similar risks regardless of the specific manufacturer, creating widespread exposure across enterprise environments that rely on tape-based storage solutions for long-term data retention and disaster recovery.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate credential management and configuration hardening. Organizations must conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices and ensure that default passwords are changed immediately upon deployment or discovery. The implementation of strong authentication policies, including regular credential rotation and multi-factor authentication where available, should be enforced across all tape library management interfaces. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit physical and logical access to these devices, following the principle of least privilege as outlined in cybersecurity frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and represents a significant concern for attackers following MITRE ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation.