CVE-2013-2717 in Smarts Network Configuration Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in the System Management (aka SysAdmin) Console in EMC Smarts Network Configuration Manager (NCM) through 9.2 have unknown impact and attack vectors, a different issue than CVE-2013-0935. NOTE: this might overlap CVEs for open-source server components or other third-party components.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2717 affects the System Management Console component within EMC Smarts Network Configuration Manager version 9.2 and earlier. This system management interface represents a critical attack surface for enterprise network infrastructure management, as it provides administrative access to network configuration and monitoring capabilities. The affected component serves as a centralized console for managing network devices and configurations, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise network infrastructure. The vulnerability exists within the console's handling of unspecified inputs or processing functions, creating potential entry points for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to the management interface.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from unspecified flaws in the System Management Console's processing mechanisms, which could potentially allow attackers to exploit weaknesses in input validation, memory management, or authentication processes. These unspecified vulnerabilities may manifest as buffer overflows, injection flaws, or other code execution vulnerabilities that could be leveraged by attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access. The lack of specific details in the initial description suggests either incomplete disclosure or that the vulnerabilities were complex enough that their precise technical mechanisms required further analysis by security researchers. The vulnerability's classification as affecting the System Management Console indicates it likely involves authentication bypass, privilege escalation, or remote code execution capabilities that could compromise the entire network management infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2717 could be substantial for organizations relying on EMC Smarts NCM for network management, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with administrative access to critical network infrastructure. This access could enable attackers to modify network configurations, monitor traffic, disable security controls, or establish persistence within the network environment. The vulnerability's potential to affect multiple unspecified areas suggests it could impact various aspects of the console's functionality, including user authentication, configuration management, and system monitoring capabilities. Organizations using this software would face significant risk of network compromise, data exfiltration, and potential disruption of critical network services that depend on proper configuration management.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying available patches from EMC, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the management console, and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments of the affected system. The vulnerability's potential overlap with open-source components or third-party libraries suggests that organizations should also review their entire software supply chain for similar issues. According to CWE classification standards, this vulnerability could map to multiple categories including CWE-119 for memory safety issues, CWE-20 for input validation problems, or CWE-264 for privilege escalation scenarios. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would likely map to techniques involving privilege escalation, defense evasion, and initial access through exploitation of management interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect suspicious activity within the management console and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing management interface compromises.