CVE-2015-6850 in VPLEX GeoSynchrony
Summary
by MITRE
EMC VPLEX GeoSynchrony 5.4 SP1 before P3 and 5,5 before Patch 1 has a default password for the root account, which allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging a login session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6850 affects EMC VPLEX GeoSynchrony versions 5.4 SP1 before P3 and 5.5 before Patch 1, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the system's authentication mechanism. This issue stems from the improper configuration of default credentials within the root account, creating an inherent weakness that malicious actors can exploit to escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability specifically targets the local authentication process, where an attacker with physical access or existing login session privileges can leverage the hardcoded default password to assume administrative control. This flaw directly violates fundamental security principles by providing unauthorized access through predictable credentials that should never be present in production environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the system's account management and authentication subsystem where the root user account retains a default password configuration that remains unchanged post-installation. This default credential allows local users to bypass normal authentication procedures and gain immediate administrative access to the system. The flaw operates at the operating system level where the authentication service fails to properly enforce secure credential management practices, enabling privilege escalation through simple credential reuse. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise and can be accomplished through standard login procedures, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical access is possible or where session hijacking techniques are employed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the VPLEX GeoSynchrony system. This elevated privilege level enables malicious actors to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, disable security controls, and potentially compromise the entire data protection infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the system's confidentiality, integrity, and availability by allowing unauthorized modification of critical system parameters and data. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential disruption of critical data synchronization services that rely on VPLEX GeoSynchrony for disaster recovery and business continuity operations. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the system handles sensitive enterprise data or serves as a critical component of data protection strategies.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6850 require immediate implementation of secure configuration practices and system updates. Organizations should immediately apply the relevant patches provided by EMC to address the default credential vulnerability and ensure all default accounts are properly secured. System administrators must verify that the root account has a strong, unique password that meets security policy requirements and disable or remove default accounts that are not required for system operation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. Additionally, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage legitimate administrative credentials to gain unauthorized access. Regular security audits should verify that no default passwords remain in the system, and access controls should be implemented to restrict local login sessions to authorized personnel only. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing system configurations while maintaining the integrity of the security controls.