CVE-2012-4614 in It Operations Intelligence
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of EMC Smarts Network Configuration Manager (NCM) before 9.1 does not require authentication for database access, which allows remote attackers to have an unspecified impact via a network session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4614 affects the EMC Smarts Network Configuration Manager (NCM) version 9.0 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in the default configuration of this network management software. This issue stems from the absence of authentication requirements for database access within the NCM system, creating an exploitable weakness that remote attackers can leverage to gain unauthorized access to sensitive network configuration data. The vulnerability exists at the configuration level rather than being a code-level flaw, making it particularly concerning as it represents a fundamental security misconfiguration that persists across the entire product lifecycle.
The technical flaw manifests through the lack of proper authentication mechanisms for database connections within the EMC Smarts NCM environment, which operates under a default configuration that assumes trusted network conditions. This misconfiguration allows any remote network entity to establish database sessions without proper credential verification, effectively providing unrestricted access to the underlying database containing critical network configuration information. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-287 (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) categories, as it involves both the absence of authentication controls and potential exposure of sensitive configuration data. The database access without authentication creates an attack surface that enables adversaries to perform unauthorized operations including data extraction, modification, or deletion of network configuration parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of network configuration data that is critical for maintaining secure network operations. Remote attackers who exploit this vulnerability can potentially gain access to sensitive network topology information, device configurations, and connection parameters that could be used to plan more sophisticated attacks against the network infrastructure. This vulnerability enables persistent access to network management systems and could facilitate lateral movement within the network environment, particularly when combined with other reconnaissance activities. The attack vector is particularly dangerous due to its remote nature, allowing adversaries to exploit the flaw from external network positions without requiring physical access or legitimate credentials. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers may use network scanning techniques to identify vulnerable NCM instances and then exploit the authentication bypass to access database resources.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2012-4614 requires immediate implementation of proper authentication controls for database access within the EMC Smarts NCM environment. Organizations should upgrade to EMC Smarts NCM version 9.1 or later, which includes proper authentication mechanisms for database connections. System administrators must also manually verify and correct the default configuration settings to ensure that database access requires proper authentication credentials before any operations can be performed. Security controls should include implementing network segmentation to limit access to NCM database components, configuring firewalls to restrict database access to authorized network segments, and establishing regular security audits to verify proper configuration settings. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized database access attempts and establish incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring that database connections require valid authentication before any data access or modification operations can occur, thereby protecting the integrity of network configuration management systems.