CVE-2017-15517 in OST Plug-in
Summary
by MITRE
AltaVault OST Plug-in versions prior to 1.2.2 may allow attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors. All users are urged to move to a fixed version and change passwords used by Veritas NetBackup to access the OST shares on the NetApp AltaVault as a precaution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2019
CVE-2017-15517 represents a sensitive information disclosure vulnerability affecting AltaVault OST Plug-in versions prior to 1.2.2, which falls under the broader category of information exposure flaws classified as CWE-200. This vulnerability resides within the Veritas NetBackup ecosystem and specifically targets the communication protocols used to access OST shares on NetApp AltaVault storage appliances. The unspecified vectors suggest that attackers could potentially exploit various pathways to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data that should remain protected within the backup infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it directly impacts the security of backup operations where critical organizational data is stored and managed through the NetBackup platform.
The technical flaw manifests in how the AltaVault OST Plug-in handles authentication and authorization processes when communicating with NetApp storage systems. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive information through unauthorized means, likely involving credential theft or privilege escalation techniques that would normally be restricted within properly configured backup environments. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts usage and T1552 which covers credentials in files and T1552.1 which covers unsecured credentials. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as it compromises the integrity of the backup infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate backup data or gain deeper access to the underlying storage systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Veritas NetBackup for their backup and recovery operations. When attackers successfully exploit this flaw, they could potentially access backup data that contains sensitive organizational information, including user credentials, system configurations, and potentially production data. This creates a cascading security risk where compromised backup systems become attack vectors for further infiltration of the network. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where NetBackup is used to manage backups of email systems, as OST files contain extensive email data that could be valuable to threat actors. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues if backup data is compromised, as this could violate data protection regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or other applicable data privacy laws.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to AltaVault OST Plug-in version 1.2.2 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the information disclosure vulnerability. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive password rotation for all accounts used by Veritas NetBackup to access OST shares on NetApp AltaVault systems. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include monitoring for any suspicious access patterns or unauthorized attempts to access backup systems, as these could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication for backup system access and regular security assessments of their backup infrastructure to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors.