CVE-2014-3043 in Storwize Unified V7000 Software
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Storwize V7000 Unified 1.3.x and 1.4.x before 1.4.3.3 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges by leveraging access to the service account.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3043 affects IBM Storwize V7000 Unified storage systems running versions 1.3.x and 1.4.x prior to 1.4.3.3. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to elevate their access rights within the storage environment. The vulnerability specifically targets the service account access controls, which serve as a fundamental security boundary within the system's architecture. The affected versions demonstrate a weakness in the authorization mechanisms that govern how service accounts interact with the system's administrative functions, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to exploit existing authenticated sessions and gain elevated privileges.
The technical flaw manifests through improper access control enforcement when service accounts interact with the storage system's management interfaces. Attackers who have already established authenticated access to the system can leverage their existing credentials to perform privilege escalation attacks, effectively bypassing the normal security boundaries that should prevent standard users from accessing administrative functions. This vulnerability operates under the weakness category of insufficient authorization as classified by CWE-284, where the system fails to properly verify that the requesting entity has sufficient privileges to perform the requested operation. The flaw essentially allows an authenticated user to perform actions that should be restricted to privileged administrators, creating a pathway for unauthorized system control and potential data compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized data access. An attacker with elevated privileges can manipulate storage configurations, access sensitive data stored on the system, modify storage policies, and potentially disrupt business operations. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on IBM Storwize V7000 Unified for their storage infrastructure, particularly those with remote access capabilities that might expose the service account interfaces to potential attackers. This flaw can be exploited through network-based attacks where remote authenticated users leverage their existing sessions to escalate privileges, potentially leading to data breaches, system downtime, and regulatory compliance violations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the privilege escalation vulnerability in IBM Storwize V7000 Unified versions 1.3.x and 1.4.x. System administrators should also review and tighten access controls for service accounts, ensuring that these accounts have the minimal necessary privileges and are properly isolated from general user access. Network segmentation should be implemented to restrict access to service account interfaces, and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual privilege escalation activities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be categorized under T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, where adversaries leverage existing authenticated sessions to gain elevated system access. The vulnerability also relates to T1566 - Phishing for Information, as attackers may need to establish initial authenticated access through social engineering or other means before exploiting this specific privilege escalation flaw.