CVE-2016-1563 in Clustered Data ONTAP
Summary
by MITRE
NetApp Clustered Data ONTAP 8.3.1 does not properly verify X.509 certificates from TLS servers, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information via a crafted certificate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1563 affects NetApp Clustered Data ONTAP version 8.3.1 and represents a critical flaw in the implementation of Transport Layer Security certificate validation mechanisms. This weakness resides in the system's inability to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by TLS servers, creating a significant security gap that adversaries can exploit to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability specifically impacts the cryptographic verification process that should ensure server authenticity and data integrity during encrypted communications. When systems fail to validate certificate chains properly, they become susceptible to attacks where malicious actors can present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable system.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from inadequate certificate validation logic within the TLS implementation of the NetApp storage platform. Standard cryptographic protocols require that certificates be validated against trusted certificate authorities and that certificate chains be properly verified for authenticity and integrity. In the case of CVE-2016-1563, the system's certificate validation process appears to be bypassed or insufficiently enforced, allowing attackers to present crafted certificates that contain malicious content or redirect traffic to unauthorized endpoints. This vulnerability operates at the application layer where TLS connections are established and authenticated, making it particularly dangerous for storage environments where sensitive data is transmitted and stored. The flaw aligns with CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation and represents a direct violation of secure communication protocols that should be enforced by all networked systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the trust model that underpins secure communications in enterprise storage environments. Attackers exploiting this weakness can gain access to sensitive information transmitted through the affected NetApp systems, potentially including authentication credentials, data payloads, and system configuration details. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in clustered environments where multiple storage nodes communicate with each other and with external systems, as it could enable attackers to disrupt storage operations, gain unauthorized access to data repositories, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. Organizations relying on NetApp Clustered Data ONTAP for mission-critical storage operations face significant risk of data breaches and operational disruption when this vulnerability remains unpatched. The attack surface is broad as it affects all TLS communications within the system, including management interfaces, data transfers, and replication operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1563 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from NetApp to address the certificate validation flaw. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous certificate behavior and establish certificate pinning mechanisms where possible to prevent unauthorized certificate acceptance. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their TLS configurations and ensure that certificate validation parameters are properly enforced throughout the network infrastructure. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for certificate-related anomalies, and establishing robust certificate lifecycle management processes. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date cryptographic implementations and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1046 which covers network service scanning and T1566 which addresses credential harvesting through man-in-the-middle attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate transparency monitoring to detect when unauthorized certificates are issued for their domains, providing an additional layer of defense against this type of cryptographic attack.