CVE-2016-0916 in NetWorker
Summary
by MITRE
EMC NetWorker 8.2.1.x and 8.2.2.x before 8.2.2.6 and 9.x before 9.0.0.6 mishandles authentication, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands by leveraging access to a different NetWorker instance.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0916 affects EMC NetWorker versions 8.2.1.x through 8.2.2.5 and 9.0.0.0 through 9.0.0.5, representing a critical authentication flaw that enables remote code execution through improper access control mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from the software's inadequate handling of authentication tokens and session management between different NetWorker instances, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit cross-instance access controls. The flaw resides in the core authentication architecture where the system fails to properly validate credentials when transitioning between different NetWorker instances, allowing unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a specific flaw in how NetWorker instances communicate and authenticate with each other within a networked environment. When a user or process gains access to one NetWorker instance, the system's authentication mechanism does not sufficiently verify that the same credentials should be valid for accessing other instances within the same administrative domain. This creates a trust boundary violation where legitimate access to one instance can be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to other instances, effectively bypassing the intended security controls. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level where authentication tokens are not properly scoped or validated across instance boundaries, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple NetWorker instances are deployed.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0916 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands on affected systems, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, and disruption of backup operations that are critical to business continuity. The attack vector requires minimal privileges initially, as attackers only need access to one instance to leverage the flaw against others, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors. Organizations with distributed NetWorker deployments face heightened risk since the vulnerability can propagate across multiple instances without requiring additional authentication credentials.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of privilege escalation through insecure cross-instance communication, where the system's trust model is fundamentally flawed. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches, reviewing network segmentation policies, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that authentication mechanisms are properly configured across all NetWorker instances and that proper access controls are enforced between different administrative domains. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unusual cross-instance access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of proper authentication design in distributed systems, particularly in backup and recovery environments where system integrity is paramount. This flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor authentication design issues can lead to significant security breaches in enterprise environments. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their backup infrastructure to identify similar authentication weaknesses that could be exploited in other systems. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust network monitoring to detect anomalous behavior in distributed backup systems. Proper incident response procedures should include specific checks for this vulnerability in environments where EMC NetWorker is deployed to ensure timely remediation and prevent potential exploitation by malicious actors.