CVE-2017-14384 in Storage Manager
Summary
by MITRE
In Dell Storage Manager versions earlier than 16.3.20, the EMConfigMigration service is affected by a directory traversal vulnerability. A remote malicious user could potentially exploit this vulnerability to read unauthorized files by supplying specially crafted strings in input parameters of the application. A malicious user cannot delete or modify any files via this vulnerability.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14384 affects Dell Storage Manager versions prior to 16.3.20 and specifically targets the EMConfigMigration service component. This directory traversal flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows remote attackers to access unauthorized files within the system's file structure. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the service's parameter handling mechanisms, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate file access paths through crafted input strings.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, which specifically addresses directory traversal attacks where attackers can manipulate input to access files outside of the intended directory structure. The EMConfigMigration service processes user-supplied parameters without adequate sanitization or validation, enabling attackers to construct malicious file paths that bypass normal access controls. This flaw operates by exploiting the service's failure to properly validate or filter input parameters, allowing attackers to navigate the file system using sequences such as "../" to move up directory levels and access restricted files.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on Dell Storage Manager for their storage infrastructure management. The ability to read unauthorized files could expose sensitive configuration data, system credentials, or other confidential information stored within the storage manager's file structure. While the vulnerability does not permit file modification or deletion, the unauthorized data reading capability can still result in information disclosure attacks that may lead to further exploitation opportunities. Attackers could potentially extract system configuration files, user credentials, or other sensitive data that could be leveraged for additional attacks within the network.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is remote and requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from outside the organization's network. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the leaked data could provide attackers with insights into system architecture, configuration settings, and potential security weaknesses that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks. Organizations using affected Dell Storage Manager versions should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure while planning for immediate remediation through the vendor-provided patch.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize the immediate upgrade to Dell Storage Manager version 16.3.20 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the directory traversal vulnerability. Additionally, network administrators should implement proper input validation controls at the application level and consider deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious directory traversal attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the technique of "T1083 - File and Directory Discovery" as attackers could use this flaw to enumerate the file system and identify sensitive data locations within the storage manager environment. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other components of the storage infrastructure.