CVE-2016-2008 in Data Protector
Summary
by MITRE
HPE Data Protector before 7.03_108, 8.x before 8.15, and 9.x before 9.06 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2022
HPE Data Protector represents a comprehensive backup and recovery solution widely deployed across enterprise environments for protecting critical data assets. This vulnerability affects multiple major versions including the 7.03 release series, 8.x versions prior to 8.15, and 9.x releases before 9.06, indicating a significant scope of impacted installations. The vulnerability manifests as a remote code execution flaw that could enable attackers to gain unauthorized control over affected systems without requiring local access or authentication credentials.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from unspecified attack vectors within the Data Protector software architecture, suggesting potential issues in input validation, memory management, or network protocol handling. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data or improper handling of network communications that could be exploited through crafted malicious payloads. The unspecified nature of the vectors indicates that attackers could potentially leverage various methods including network-based attacks, malformed data processing, or protocol manipulation to achieve code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple system compromise, as Data Protector serves as a critical component in enterprise data protection strategies. Successful exploitation could result in complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or disruption of backup operations that organizations rely upon for disaster recovery. Organizations utilizing these vulnerable versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their backup infrastructure, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of their entire data protection ecosystem. The remote execution capability eliminates the need for physical access or insider knowledge, making the attack surface particularly concerning for large enterprise deployments.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Data Protector services to untrusted networks. Monitoring for suspicious network activity and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential attack vectors within their backup infrastructure and consider implementing additional security controls such as network access control lists and enhanced logging mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses weakness in memory management and improper access to memory locations, while also mapping to ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate credentials and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat landscape. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of this critical vulnerability.