CVE-2016-6647 in ViPR SRM
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in EMC ViPR SRM before 4.0.1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2022
The CVE-2016-6647 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in EMC ViPR SRM versions prior to 4.0.1, categorizing it under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. This vulnerability affects the security posture of enterprise storage management systems by allowing authenticated attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's user interface. The flaw exists within the application's input validation and output encoding mechanisms, creating a pathway for attackers who have already established legitimate credentials to manipulate the system's web interface. The vulnerability's classification as remote authenticated indicates that attackers do not require physical access or elevated privileges beyond standard user accounts to exploit the flaw, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on comprehensive user access controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the EMC ViPR SRM application, suggesting that the flaw may manifest across multiple input points or functions within the system. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' sessions, leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized system access. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it allows for potential privilege escalation or data manipulation within the storage management environment. The vulnerability's presence in the ViPR SRM platform, which manages enterprise storage resources, creates a significant risk for organizations that depend on centralized storage monitoring and management capabilities, as successful exploitation could compromise the integrity of storage operations and data availability.
The operational consequences of CVE-2016-6647 are substantial for enterprises utilizing EMC ViPR SRM, as it undermines the trust model of the application and creates potential attack vectors for lateral movement within the storage infrastructure. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to storage configurations, data exposure, or manipulation of storage management functions that could affect business continuity. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe given that ViPR SRM systems often contain sensitive operational data about storage resources, performance metrics, and system configurations that could be leveraged by attackers for more extensive breaches. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential access through social engineering and application exploitation, making it a critical concern for security operations teams managing enterprise storage environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided patches for EMC ViPR SRM version 4.0.1 and subsequent releases, as well as implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls and enhanced input validation measures. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of all authenticated user sessions and monitor for suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and the need for organizations to maintain current patch management processes for enterprise storage management systems. Implementation of proper output encoding and input validation controls within the application framework would provide defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities in the future, while also aligning with industry best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 for application security controls.