CVE-2017-12422 in StorageGRID Webscale
Summary
by MITRE
NetApp StorageGRID Webscale 10.2.x before 10.2.2.3, 10.3.x before 10.3.0.4, and 10.4.x before 10.4.0.2 allow remote authenticated users to delete arbitrary objects via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12422 affects NetApp StorageGRID Webscale software across multiple version ranges, specifically impacting versions 10.2.x prior to 10.2.2.3, 10.3.x prior to 10.3.0.4, and 10.4.x prior to 10.4.0.2. This represents a critical authorization flaw that allows remote authenticated users to perform unauthorized object deletion operations within the storage system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions before executing destructive operations. The affected system operates as a distributed storage solution designed for large-scale data management and archival purposes, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on its object storage capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper input validation and authorization checks within the storage grid's object management interfaces. Attackers who have gained legitimate authentication credentials can exploit this flaw to manipulate the system's object deletion functionality, potentially removing critical data without proper authorization. This weakness falls under the broader category of authorization bypass vulnerabilities and aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be present across multiple API endpoints or management interfaces within the StorageGRID system, making it challenging to fully assess the attack surface without detailed technical analysis. The flaw essentially allows authenticated users to escalate their privileges or abuse existing permissions to perform operations beyond their intended scope.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, as it can compromise the integrity and availability of storage systems critical to enterprise operations. Organizations using StorageGRID for archival, backup, or content delivery services face significant risk of data corruption or complete data loss if exploited. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access to the system, and the authenticated requirement only necessitates valid user credentials, which can be obtained through various social engineering, credential theft, or exploitation techniques. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where privileged accounts are compromised or where insufficient credential management practices exist. The impact is further amplified in multi-tenant storage environments where one malicious user could potentially affect other tenants' data integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12422 primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates, specifically targeting the affected version ranges mentioned in the vulnerability description. Organizations should immediately upgrade to the patched versions 10.2.2.3, 10.3.0.4, and 10.4.0.2 respectively. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential attack surface, while monitoring for unauthorized deletion activities should be enhanced through log analysis and alerting systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust access control implementations and proper privilege management within storage systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1485 for data destruction. Organizations should also review their credential management policies and consider implementing additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to privileged accounts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar authorization flaws in other storage systems within the enterprise environment.