CVE-2015-5445 in StoreOnce Backup
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in HP StoreOnce Backup system software before 3.13.1 allows remote authenticated users to hijack the authentication of unspecified victims via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2022
The CVE-2015-5445 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in HP StoreOnce Backup system software versions prior to 3.13.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms of the backup system, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on HP StoreOnce infrastructure. The flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to exploit the system's trust model and potentially hijack user sessions, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of backup operations. The vulnerability's classification as a CSRF issue indicates that it leverages the browser's implicit trust in authenticated sessions to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within the HP StoreOnce backup system's web interface. When authenticated users access the system's administrative functions, the software fails to adequately verify that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same session context. This weakness allows attackers who have gained access to a valid user session to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users, potentially enabling them to perform administrative actions without proper authorization. The unspecified victim vectors suggest that the attack could target various user roles within the system, potentially affecting both regular users and administrators with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it could enable attackers to manipulate backup configurations, access sensitive data, or disrupt backup operations entirely. Organizations using affected versions of HP StoreOnce software face risks including unauthorized data access, potential data corruption through malicious backup operations, and possible escalation of privileges to administrative levels. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with limited network segmentation. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the CSRF category that undermines application security by exploiting the implicit trust between web applications and user browsers.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires attackers to first obtain valid authentication credentials, which could be achieved through various means including credential theft, social engineering, or other initial compromise techniques. Once authenticated, attackers can leverage the CSRF flaw to perform actions such as creating new user accounts, modifying backup policies, or accessing restricted system information. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing robust anti-CSRF protections in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive data and administrative functions. Security frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework emphasize the need for proper authentication and session management controls, which are directly compromised by this type of vulnerability. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls including multi-factor authentication, network segmentation, and regular security assessments to mitigate the risks associated with CSRF vulnerabilities in backup and storage systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5445 primarily involve upgrading to HP StoreOnce software version 3.13.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the CSRF implementation flaws. Additionally, organizations should implement network security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns, and establish strict access controls including role-based permissions and regular credential reviews. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of maintaining up-to-date software patches and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar issues in backup and storage infrastructure. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous administrative activities that might indicate CSRF attack attempts, and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing authentication-related security incidents. Organizations should review their existing security controls against the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on credential access and privilege escalation techniques that this vulnerability could enable. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the patched software to ensure that legitimate administrative functions remain operational while the CSRF vulnerability is properly addressed.