CVE-2013-0935 in Smarts Network Configuration Manager
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Smarts Network Configuration Manager (NCM) before 9.2 does not require authentication for all Java RMI method calls, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0935 affects EMC Smarts Network Configuration Manager version 9.2 and earlier, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw within the Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI) framework. This vulnerability stems from the improper implementation of security controls within the NCM application, specifically failing to enforce authentication requirements for all Java RMI method calls. The flaw exists at the application layer where the security mechanisms are not consistently applied across all remote interfaces, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by unauthenticated remote adversaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the Java RMI subsystem of the EMC Smarts NCM application where certain method calls do not properly validate caller credentials before executing business logic. This authentication bypass allows remote attackers to invoke arbitrary Java methods without proper authorization, effectively providing them with elevated privileges within the application context. The unspecified vectors indicate that multiple attack paths may exist, potentially including direct RMI endpoint exploitation, man-in-the-middle attacks, or exploitation through related services that communicate with the vulnerable NCM components. This flaw directly maps to CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on the affected system with the privileges of the application process. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, lateral movement within the network, and potential disruption of critical network configuration management services. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on EMC Smarts NCM for network infrastructure management, potentially exposing their entire network monitoring and configuration capabilities to unauthorized access. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to manipulate network configurations, install malicious software, or establish persistent access points within the organization's network infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to EMC Smarts Network Configuration Manager version 9.2 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the authentication bypass. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the affected RMI endpoints, limiting connectivity to only trusted administrative networks. Additional protective measures include enabling secure RMI configurations with proper authentication mechanisms, implementing network monitoring to detect unusual RMI activity, and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments of the entire EMC Smarts ecosystem. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and remote code execution techniques, with potential for lateral movement through the network configuration management infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their network management infrastructure.