CVE-2014-3077 in Storwize V7000 Unified Software
Summary
by MITRE
IBM SONAS and System Storage Storwize V7000 Unified (aka V7000U) 1.3.x and 1.4.x before 1.4.3.4 store the chkauth password in the audit log, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading this log file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3077 affects IBM SONAS and System Storage Storwize V7000 Unified appliances running versions 1.3.x and 1.4.x before 1.4.3.4. This security flaw represents a critical information disclosure issue that undermines the integrity of authentication mechanisms within these storage systems. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication credentials during audit logging processes, creating a persistent exposure that can be exploited by local attackers with system access privileges.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the insecure storage of chkauth passwords within audit log files, which are typically maintained for system monitoring and compliance purposes. When authentication checks occur, the system inadvertently writes authentication credentials to log files that remain accessible to local users with read permissions. This practice violates fundamental security principles of credential protection and demonstrates a failure in proper input sanitization and output handling within the logging subsystem. The vulnerability specifically relates to CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and CWE-532, which covers information exposure through log files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as local attackers can leverage this information to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to storage resources. Once an attacker obtains these stored credentials, they can potentially access protected storage volumes, modify data, or establish persistent access points within the storage environment. The vulnerability affects both the SONAS and V7000 Unified platforms, which are enterprise-grade storage solutions commonly deployed in data centers where unauthorized access to storage systems can result in significant data breaches and operational disruptions. This flaw particularly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts through compromised credentials, and T1566.001, which involves credential harvesting through various attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of firmware updates to versions 1.4.3.4 or later, which address the insecure logging behavior. System administrators should also implement strict access controls on audit log files, ensuring that only authorized personnel with legitimate administrative purposes can access these sensitive records. Additional protective measures include regular monitoring of log file access patterns and implementing log rotation policies that prevent long-term retention of sensitive information. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their storage infrastructure to identify similar credential exposure vulnerabilities, particularly focusing on authentication and authorization mechanisms within enterprise storage systems. The remediation process must include verification that audit logs no longer contain sensitive credential information and that proper access controls are in place to prevent unauthorized log file reading operations.