CVE-2014-4623 in Avamar
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Avamar 6.0.x, 6.1.x, and 7.0.x in Avamar Data Store (ADS) GEN4(S) and Avamar Virtual Edition (AVE), when Password Hardening before 2.0.0.4 is enabled, uses UNIX DES crypt for password hashing, which makes it easier for context-dependent attackers to obtain cleartext passwords via a brute-force attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4623 affects EMC Avamar versions 6.0.x through 7.0.x including both Avamar Data Store GEN4(S) and Avamar Virtual Edition deployments. This security weakness becomes particularly significant when the Password Hardening feature is enabled with a version prior to 2.0.0.4. The core issue lies in the implementation of password hashing mechanisms that utilize the outdated UNIX DES crypt algorithm instead of more secure modern hashing functions. The DES crypt algorithm, which has been deprecated for decades due to its inherent weaknesses, provides insufficient protection against contemporary attack vectors. This flaw creates a critical security gap that allows malicious actors to exploit the system through brute-force attacks to recover cleartext passwords from the hashed representations stored within the Avamar environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the use of the Data Encryption Standard crypt algorithm, which operates with a 56-bit key length and produces only 64-bit hash outputs. This algorithmic choice directly violates modern cryptographic best practices and industry standards such as those outlined in CWE-327, which specifically addresses the use of weak encryption algorithms. The DES crypt implementation in this context creates a predictable pattern that makes password recovery significantly more feasible for attackers. The brute-force attack vector becomes particularly effective because DES crypt lacks the computational complexity and salted hash mechanisms that modern password hashing functions employ, such as bcrypt, scrypt, or PBKDF2. Attackers can leverage precomputed tables, rainbow tables, or simple brute-force approaches to reverse-engineer the original passwords from the stored hash values.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential compromise, as it represents a fundamental failure in the security architecture of the Avamar backup and recovery system. Organizations relying on these versions of Avamar face significant risk of unauthorized access to their backup infrastructure, which could lead to data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects the core authentication mechanism of the system, making it a critical target for attackers seeking persistent access to backup environments. From an attacker perspective, this weakness aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access tactics, specifically targeting password dumping and brute force methods. The vulnerability's context-dependent nature means that successful exploitation requires the attacker to have access to the system's password hash storage, typically through legitimate administrative access or other initial compromise vectors.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with upgrading to Avamar versions that include Password Hardening 2.0.0.4 or later, which properly implements secure password hashing mechanisms. The recommended approach involves deploying modern password hashing algorithms that incorporate salting and sufficient computational complexity to resist brute-force attacks. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as account lockout policies, multi-factor authentication, and regular security assessments to reduce the attack surface. The remediation process must include thorough testing of the updated systems to ensure compatibility with existing backup workflows while maintaining security integrity. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems that might be using outdated cryptographic implementations, as this vulnerability represents a broader class of issues that can affect legacy systems. The implementation of these mitigations aligns with industry standards including NIST SP 800-63B for digital identity management and security guidelines for password storage practices.