CVE-2016-8514 in Version Control Repository Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A remote information disclosure in HPE Version Control Repository Manager (VCRM) was found. The problem impacts all versions prior to 7.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8514 represents a critical remote information disclosure flaw within HPE Version Control Repository Manager (VCRM) software. This issue affects all versions of the product prior to 7.6, creating a significant security risk for organizations that rely on HPE's version control solutions for managing software development environments and deployment configurations. The vulnerability allows unauthorized remote attackers to access sensitive information that should remain protected within the system's internal repositories and configuration data.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from inadequate access controls and insufficient input validation mechanisms within the VCRM application's remote interfaces. Attackers can exploit this weakness to retrieve configuration files, repository metadata, and potentially sensitive system information that would normally be restricted to authorized personnel only. This type of vulnerability typically arises from improper privilege separation and authentication mechanisms that fail to adequately validate user credentials or enforce proper access boundaries. The flaw enables an attacker to bypass normal security controls and gain visibility into the underlying software repository structure and associated data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information leakage, as it can provide attackers with valuable intelligence for planning more sophisticated attacks against the affected environment. The disclosed information may include repository paths, version control metadata, system configurations, and potentially credentials or access tokens that could facilitate further exploitation. Organizations using affected VCRM versions face significant risk of supply chain attacks, where the leaked information could be used to target other systems within the same network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of software development environments, potentially compromising the security of entire development pipelines and deployment processes.
Security practitioners should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to HPE Version Control Repository Manager version 7.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to VCRM services only to trusted administrative networks. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive audits of their version control systems to identify any other potentially vulnerable components in their software development infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks. This issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1213, which covers data from information repositories, highlighting the importance of protecting version control systems from unauthorized access. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails of access to critical repository systems.