CVE-2016-5711 in Virtual Storage Console
Summary
by MITRE
NetApp Virtual Storage Console for VMware vSphere before 6.2.1 uses a non-unique certificate, which allows remote attackers to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5711 affects NetApp Virtual Storage Console for VMware vSphere versions prior to 6.2.1, presenting a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of network communications. This flaw stems from the use of a non-unique certificate across multiple installations, creating a scenario where attackers can exploit the predictable cryptographic material to impersonate legitimate systems. The vulnerability operates within the context of virtualized storage environments where secure communication between the vSphere hypervisor and storage management interfaces is paramount for maintaining data integrity and system security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the certificate management practices employed by the NetApp Virtual Storage Console software. When multiple instances of the console use identical certificates, attackers can leverage this commonality to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks without requiring sophisticated cryptographic破译 capabilities. The unspecified attack vectors suggest that the vulnerability can be exploited through various network communication channels, potentially including API endpoints, web interfaces, or direct network connections between the vSphere environment and storage systems. This certificate reuse creates a predictable attack surface that violates fundamental security principles of unique cryptographic identity management.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5711 extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to potentially intercept, modify, or redirect sensitive storage management communications. In VMware vSphere environments, this vulnerability could allow unauthorized parties to gain access to storage configuration data, manipulate storage provisioning operations, or even execute malicious commands through the compromised management interface. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where virtual storage consoles handle critical data operations and where the integrity of storage management communications directly affects overall system security posture. The vulnerability essentially undermines the trust model that secure communications depend upon, making it difficult for administrators to verify the authenticity of storage management interactions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to NetApp Virtual Storage Console version 6.2.1 or later, which implements unique certificate generation for each installation. Security measures should also include monitoring network traffic for suspicious communication patterns and implementing additional network segmentation controls to limit exposure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues related to weak or predictable cryptographic keys, and represents a significant concern from an ATT&CK framework perspective under the T1566 technique for credential harvesting through man-in-the-middle attacks. Administrators should also consider implementing certificate pinning mechanisms and regularly auditing certificate usage across their VMware vSphere environments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their infrastructure.