CVE-2016-8216 in Data Domain DD
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Data Domain OS (DD OS) 5.4 all versions, EMC Data Domain OS (DD OS) 5.5 family all versions prior to 5.5.5.0, EMC Data Domain OS (DD OS) 5.6 family all versions prior to 5.6.2.0, EMC Data Domain OS (DD OS) 5.7 family all versions prior to 5.7.2.10 has a command injection vulnerability that could potentially be exploited by malicious users to compromise the affected system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2022
The CVE-2016-8216 vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw within EMC Data Domain Operating System implementations across multiple version families. This vulnerability affects EMC Data Domain OS versions 5.4 through 5.7, specifically targeting systems running prior to the security patches released in 5.5.5.0, 5.6.2.0, and 5.7.2.10 respectively. The flaw exists in the system's handling of user input within command processing functions, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary commands on the affected systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter or escape user-supplied data before it is processed by the underlying operating system commands.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated attacker with access to the system's command interface can manipulate input parameters to inject malicious commands that bypass normal execution boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category, specifically representing a command injection weakness where attacker-controlled data is interpreted and executed as part of a command or query. The flaw allows for arbitrary code execution at the privilege level of the affected service account, potentially enabling attackers to gain full system control, escalate privileges, or manipulate system configuration settings. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core operating system functionality of Data Domain appliances, which are designed for secure data backup and archival operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on EMC Data Domain systems for critical data protection infrastructure. Successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of backup operations that are essential for business continuity. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, modify system configurations, or access sensitive backup data stored on the affected appliances. The vulnerability's presence across multiple version families indicates a widespread issue affecting various generations of Data Domain systems, potentially leaving large enterprise deployments vulnerable simultaneously. Organizations utilizing these systems face potential compliance violations and security breaches that could impact regulatory requirements for data protection and information security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8216 should prioritize immediate deployment of vendor-provided security patches and updates for all affected versions. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to Data Domain systems and enforce strict authentication controls for system administration interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, indicating that exploitation would involve executing commands through legitimate system interfaces. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual command execution patterns and unauthorized access attempts to system management interfaces. Additionally, implementing input validation controls and restricting system privileges for non-privileged users can reduce the potential impact of exploitation. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other system components and ensure comprehensive protection against command injection attacks.