CVE-2015-7456 in Spectrum Scale
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Spectrum Scale 4.1.1 before 4.1.1.4, and 4.2.0.0, allows remote authenticated users to discover object-storage admin passwords via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2018
IBM Spectrum Scale represents a high-performance distributed file system that serves as a critical component in enterprise storage infrastructures. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7456 affects specific versions of this software, particularly 4.1.1 before 4.1.1.4 and 4.2.0.0, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this storage platform. This issue manifests as an information disclosure vulnerability that enables remote authenticated attackers to obtain administrative passwords used within the object-storage component of the system. The unspecified vectors through which this disclosure occurs suggest a fundamental flaw in the software's access control mechanisms or credential handling processes. The vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad by exposing sensitive administrative credentials that could provide attackers with elevated privileges within the storage environment.
The technical flaw underlying CVE-2015-7456 resides in the improper handling of administrative credentials within IBM Spectrum Scale's object-storage functionality. When authenticated users interact with the system, they can leverage unspecified vectors to extract administrative passwords, indicating a potential weakness in the system's privilege escalation or credential exposure mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure as classified by CWE-209, which deals with the exposure of sensitive information through improper error handling or credential management. The attack vector involves remote authenticated access, meaning that an attacker must first establish legitimate credentials to the system before exploiting this vulnerability. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the T1078 technique for Valid Accounts, as it requires legitimate user credentials to proceed with the attack. The flaw likely exists in how the system manages and exposes administrative passwords during normal operations or specific administrative functions within the object-storage subsystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as administrative passwords provide attackers with elevated privileges that could enable further compromise of the storage infrastructure. Organizations using affected versions of IBM Spectrum Scale face the risk of unauthorized access to critical data stored within the distributed file system. The exposure of administrative credentials could allow attackers to modify storage configurations, access sensitive data, or potentially escalate privileges to gain control over the entire storage platform. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where IBM Spectrum Scale is deployed for high-performance computing and large-scale data storage operations. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries could exploit this vulnerability from outside the organization's network perimeter, potentially leading to data breaches or system compromise. The impact is amplified in environments where the storage system contains sensitive corporate data, intellectual property, or regulated information that requires strict access controls.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches or updates to address CVE-2015-7456, as IBM has released fixes for this vulnerability in versions 4.1.1.4 and 4.2.0.0. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected IBM Spectrum Scale versions within their environment. The remediation process should include not only applying patches but also implementing network segmentation to limit access to the storage infrastructure and monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns. Additionally, organizations should review and strengthen their credential management practices, including implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts and regularly rotating administrative passwords. Security teams should monitor network traffic for signs of exploitation attempts and consider implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential attacks targeting this vulnerability. The fix addresses the root cause by properly securing administrative credential exposure mechanisms and ensuring that sensitive information is not accessible through legitimate administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for all administrative accounts and regularly auditing access logs to detect unauthorized access attempts.