CVE-2016-0909 in Avamar Data Store
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Avamar Data Store (ADS) and Avamar Virtual Edition (AVE) versions 7.3 and older contain a vulnerability that may expose the Avamar servers to potentially be compromised by malicious users.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0909 affects EMC Avamar Data Store and Avamar Virtual Edition systems running versions 7.3 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that exposes these backup and recovery platforms to unauthorized access. This weakness resides within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the Avamar systems, potentially allowing malicious actors to bypass normal security controls and gain elevated privileges on the affected servers. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user credentials and access controls within the Avamar environment, creating pathways for unauthorized individuals to compromise the integrity and availability of backup data and system resources. Organizations relying on these legacy versions face significant risk as the flaw could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code, access sensitive backup data, or disrupt critical backup operations that form the backbone of their data protection strategies.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves weaknesses in the authentication protocols that govern how Avamar systems validate user access requests. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious authentication requests that leverage the system's insufficient input validation processes, potentially allowing them to assume administrative privileges without proper authorization. This issue directly aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication vulnerabilities in software systems, specifically targeting scenarios where authentication mechanisms fail to properly validate user credentials. The flaw operates at the application layer of the system architecture, affecting the core services that manage backup operations and user access within the Avamar environment. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that Avamar systems typically contain sensitive organizational data, making them attractive targets for cyber adversaries seeking to compromise enterprise backup infrastructure.
From an operational perspective, the exploitation of CVE-2016-0909 can lead to severe consequences for organizations relying on Avamar systems for their data protection infrastructure. Successful exploitation may result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to access all backed-up data, modify backup configurations, or even delete critical backup sets that organizations depend upon for disaster recovery. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that could enable attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised systems, potentially going undetected for extended periods. This risk is particularly concerning given that Avamar systems often serve as the primary repository for critical organizational data, making them high-value targets in ransomware attacks or data exfiltration operations. The operational impact extends beyond immediate security breaches to include potential regulatory compliance violations, business disruption, and financial losses resulting from data compromise or system downtime.
Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures to address this vulnerability, beginning with upgrading to supported versions of Avamar software that contain patches for the authentication weaknesses. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest security patches provided by EMC, which address the underlying authentication flaws that enable exploitation. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have occurred before patching. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of Avamar systems to untrusted networks, while implementing additional monitoring and logging capabilities to detect anomalous authentication attempts. Security teams should consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms for administrative access to Avamar systems, as well as regular security audits of backup infrastructure to ensure that access controls remain properly configured and that no unauthorized modifications have occurred. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1078 credential access sub-technique, making it essential for organizations to maintain robust security monitoring and incident response capabilities.