CVE-2013-3274 in Avamar Server
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Avamar Server and Avamar Virtual Edition before 7.0 on Data Store Gen3, Gen4, and Gen4s platforms do not properly determine authorization for calls to Java RMI methods, which allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3274 affects EMC Avamar Server and Avamar Virtual Edition versions prior to 7.0, specifically impacting Data Store Gen3, Gen4, and Gen4s platforms. This represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of the affected systems. The vulnerability stems from improper authorization determination mechanisms within the Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI) framework, which is a core component of the Avamar backup and recovery solution. The flaw allows remote authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code on the target systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the Java RMI method call processing within the Avamar platform. When legitimate authenticated users make calls to RMI methods, the system fails to properly validate or enforce authorization boundaries, creating a path for privilege escalation. This flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the inherent trust model of the RMI infrastructure, where authenticated users are incorrectly granted elevated privileges beyond their intended access levels. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths may exist within the RMI interface, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various legitimate administrative functions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on EMC Avamar for data protection and backup services. A successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data theft, or service disruption. The remote nature of the attack means that attackers do not require physical access to the systems, significantly expanding the potential attack surface. Organizations may experience unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, while the execution of arbitrary code could lead to persistent backdoors or further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of backup and recovery systems, potentially leaving organizations unable to restore critical data during security incidents.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems. This weakness specifically manifests as inadequate authorization checks within the RMI framework, allowing authenticated users to perform actions beyond their intended permissions. The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability follows the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, where initial access through legitimate authentication is leveraged to gain higher-level system privileges. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches, disabling unnecessary RMI services, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to affected systems. Additionally, monitoring for unusual RMI activity and conducting regular security assessments of the Avamar infrastructure can help detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain overall system integrity.