CVE-2013-3285 in NetWorker
Summary
by MITRE
The NetWorker Management Console (NMC) in EMC NetWorker 8.0.x before 8.0.2.3, when using Active Directory/LDAP for authentication, allows remote authenticated users to discover cleartext administrator passwords via (1) unspecified NMC audit reports or (2) requests to RAP resources.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3285 affects EMC NetWorker 8.0.x versions prior to 8.0.2.3, specifically impacting the NetWorker Management Console (NMC) when configured to use Active Directory or LDAP authentication mechanisms. This security flaw represents a significant information disclosure vulnerability that compromises the confidentiality of administrative credentials within the system. The vulnerability exists in the way the NMC handles authentication-related data when integrated with directory services, creating potential exposure points for privileged credentials that should remain protected.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the NMC's audit reporting functionality and resource access mechanisms. When authenticated users interact with the system through RAP (Remote Administration Protocol) resources or generate audit reports, the system inadvertently exposes cleartext passwords in its responses or report outputs. This occurs because the NMC fails to properly sanitize or filter sensitive authentication data before including it in system-generated reports or response payloads. The vulnerability manifests in two distinct attack vectors that both lead to credential exposure, making the exploitation surface broader and more dangerous for organizations relying on this backup and recovery solution.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-3285 is substantial for organizations using EMC NetWorker systems with Active Directory or LDAP integration. Successful exploitation allows authenticated attackers to obtain administrator passwords in cleartext format, which could lead to complete system compromise. Once attackers possess these credentials, they can escalate privileges within the backup environment, potentially gaining access to backup data, modifying backup policies, or even corrupting backup operations. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates opportunities for lateral movement within the network, as administrators often maintain elevated permissions across multiple systems. The exposure of cleartext passwords also increases the risk of credential stuffing attacks against other systems where the same administrative credentials might be reused.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to EMC NetWorker 8.0.2.3 or later versions where this vulnerability has been patched. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened around the NMC to limit exposure to only necessary administrative personnel. The implementation of monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns or report generation activities can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review and rotate administrative credentials immediately following any potential compromise. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and represents a critical weakness in authentication and access control mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a credential access technique, specifically involving the exploitation of weak or improperly protected authentication mechanisms to obtain sensitive credentials that can be used for further system compromise.
The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output sanitization in enterprise backup and recovery systems. It highlights how integrated authentication systems can create unexpected exposure points when not properly secured against information leakage. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their backup infrastructure, particularly focusing on authentication integration points and audit reporting capabilities. Regular security testing of management interfaces and privileged access mechanisms is essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments. The incident underscores the critical need for robust security practices in enterprise systems where administrative credentials hold significant operational power and where the exposure of such credentials can lead to widespread system compromise.