CVE-2017-15548 in Avamar Server
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in EMC Avamar Server 7.1.x, 7.2.x, 7.3.x, 7.4.x, 7.5.0; EMC NetWorker Virtual Edition (NVE) 9.0.x, 9.1.x, 9.2.x; and EMC Integrated Data Protection Appliance 2.0. A remote unauthenticated malicious user can potentially bypass application authentication and gain unauthorized root access to the affected systems.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15548 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting multiple EMC data protection products including Avamar Server versions 7.1.x through 7.5.0, NetWorker Virtual Edition 9.0.x through 9.2.x, and Integrated Data Protection Appliance 2.0. This security weakness allows remote attackers to bypass the application's authentication mechanisms without requiring valid credentials, potentially enabling full system compromise. The flaw exists within the authentication handling logic of these enterprise backup and recovery solutions, which are widely deployed in enterprise environments for critical data protection operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper authentication validation processes within the affected EMC products, creating a pathway for unauthenticated remote attackers to escalate privileges to root level access. This issue is categorized under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication vulnerabilities, specifically focusing on authentication bypass mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no prior authentication credentials and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for network-connected systems. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain complete administrative control over the affected systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system disruption, or further network infiltration activities.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-15548 extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it compromises the fundamental security posture of enterprise backup infrastructure. Organizations utilizing these EMC products face significant risks including unauthorized data access, potential data corruption, and complete system compromise that could disrupt critical backup operations and data recovery processes. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of backup systems that are essential for business continuity. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these products are deployed in enterprise environments where they often contain sensitive organizational data and serve as primary recovery points for critical business applications. The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers using techniques aligned with ATT&CK tactic TA0001 (Initial Access) and TA0003 (Persistence) as described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, potentially enabling long-term system compromise and data theft.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying official security patches provided by EMC, implementing network segmentation to limit access to these systems, and conducting thorough security assessments of affected environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authentication controls and continuous security monitoring in enterprise backup solutions. Security teams must also consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability allows for complete system compromise without requiring authentication credentials. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits of backup infrastructure are essential to identify and remediate similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in other enterprise systems.