CVE-2017-14383 in VNX1
Summary
by MITRE
In Dell EMC VNX2 versions prior to Operating Environment for File 8.1.9.217 and VNX1 versions prior to Operating Environment for File 7.1.80.8, a web server error page in VNX Control Station is impacted by a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability. A remote unauthenticated attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary HTML code in the user's browser session in the context of the affected web application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14383 represents a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the Dell EMC VNX2 and VNX1 storage systems. This security weakness resides in the web server error page component of the VNX Control Station, which serves as the management interface for these enterprise storage solutions. The vulnerability affects specific versions of the operating environment for file services, with impacted releases including VNX2 versions prior to 8.1.9.217 and VNX1 versions prior to 7.1.80.8. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses that allow attackers to inject malicious client-side scripts into web applications. This particular vulnerability operates through the web server's error handling mechanism, where improperly sanitized input is reflected back to users without adequate output encoding or validation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables a remote, unauthenticated attacker to craft malicious web requests that trigger the reflected XSS payload when processed by the affected web server. When a victim user accesses a specially crafted URL containing malicious script code, the web server error page displays this content directly in the user's browser session, executing arbitrary HTML code within the context of the vulnerable web application. This execution context is particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to perform actions that are authenticated to the victim's session, potentially enabling unauthorized access to storage management functions, data exfiltration, or session hijacking. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload is not stored on the server but is instead reflected back to the user through the web server's error response mechanism, making it easier to exploit without requiring persistent storage of malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged to compromise the entire storage management environment. Attackers could potentially manipulate storage configurations, access sensitive data through the management interface, or redirect users to malicious websites that exploit additional vulnerabilities. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no prior credentials are required to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the storage management interface is accessible from untrusted networks. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the storage infrastructure, as it allows attackers to potentially gain unauthorized access to critical storage management functions and data. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which describes the use of web shells and client-side attacks to maintain access to compromised systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches, restricting network access to the VNX Control Station web interface, and implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to the affected systems to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes, particularly for enterprise storage systems that serve as critical infrastructure components. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, including unusual web traffic patterns or attempts to access malformed URLs that might trigger the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of clicking on suspicious links and the importance of maintaining current security patches remains crucial in defending against such client-side attacks that exploit the trust relationship between users and web applications.