CVE-2016-6649 in RecoverPoint
Summary
by MITRE
EMC RecoverPoint versions before 4.4.1.1 and EMC RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines versions before 5.0 are affected by multiple command injection vulnerabilities where a malicious administrator with configuration privileges may bypass the user interface and escalate his privileges to root.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6649 affects EMC RecoverPoint software versions prior to 4.4.1.1 and EMC RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines versions prior to 5.0, representing a critical command injection flaw that undermines the security posture of enterprise data protection systems. This vulnerability resides within the administrative configuration interfaces of these storage virtualization platforms, which are designed to manage complex data replication and recovery operations across distributed environments. The flaw allows an attacker with minimal administrative privileges to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system, effectively bypassing the intended user interface controls and escalating their privileges to the root level. This represents a severe compromise of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the input validation and command execution mechanisms within the affected software components.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input within the configuration interfaces of the RecoverPoint systems. When administrators interact with the software to configure replication policies, storage settings, or other operational parameters, the system fails to properly validate or escape input values before incorporating them into system commands or shell executions. This creates an environment where maliciously crafted input can be interpreted by the system as executable commands rather than data, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary shell commands that are then executed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interfaces that handle configuration changes, where the system assumes that inputs from authenticated users are safe for direct execution without proper sanitization. This flaw aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88 categories, which encompass command injection vulnerabilities and improper neutralization of special elements used in command execution contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected systems. Once exploited, the malicious administrator can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or complete disruption of the data protection infrastructure. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate system but also the broader data recovery ecosystem that relies on these systems for business continuity. Attackers can leverage this privilege escalation to modify replication policies, access sensitive data, install backdoors, or disable security features, all while maintaining persistence within the environment. The implications extend beyond simple system compromise to include potential data loss, regulatory compliance violations, and significant operational disruption for organizations relying on EMC RecoverPoint for critical data protection services. This vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise environments where storage virtualization and data recovery systems are central to business operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6649 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to the affected EMC RecoverPoint versions, with the installation of the latest security updates from EMC that address the command injection flaws in the administrative interfaces. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the RecoverPoint management interfaces and enforce strict access controls with the principle of least privilege. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader storage infrastructure, particularly focusing on input validation mechanisms and command execution pathways. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual command execution patterns and unauthorized administrative activities will help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in enterprise software, particularly for systems handling privileged operations. Organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and regular security training for system administrators to reduce the risk of privilege escalation through social engineering or credential compromise. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in staging environments before deployment to production systems to ensure no regression in functionality.