CVE-2017-17422 in NetVault Backup
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Quest NetVault Backup 11.3.0.12. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the handling of NVBUBackup Get method requests. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied string before using it to construct SQL queries. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the underlying database. Was ZDI-CAN-4233.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2020
This vulnerability in Quest NetVault Backup version 11.3.0.12 represents a critical remote code execution flaw that fundamentally undermines the security posture of affected systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the NVBUBackup Get method implementation, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious payloads into the system. The absence of authentication requirements makes this particularly dangerous as any remote entity can leverage the flaw without prior access credentials. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, where improper validation of user-supplied data leads to unauthorized database command execution.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs during the processing of NVBUBackup Get method requests where the application fails to properly sanitize or validate input parameters before incorporating them into SQL query construction. When an attacker submits malicious input through this method, the system blindly incorporates the unvalidated data into database queries, enabling the execution of arbitrary SQL commands. This vulnerability operates at the database layer, allowing attackers to execute code within the context of the underlying database user account, which typically possesses significant privileges depending on the database configuration. The exploitation chain involves crafting malicious requests that bypass normal input validation mechanisms and directly manipulate the SQL query execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise as it provides attackers with complete control over the database backend. An attacker can leverage this to extract sensitive information, modify or delete database records, create new database users, or even escalate privileges to system-level access. The vulnerability affects organizations using Quest NetVault Backup 11.3.0.12 across various deployment scenarios including enterprise backup environments where the database typically contains critical backup metadata and potentially sensitive data. This makes the impact particularly severe for organizations relying on backup systems for disaster recovery and data protection, as the compromise of backup infrastructure can lead to complete data loss or prolonged system downtime.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected systems, as the vendor has released updates addressing this specific flaw. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to backup systems and consider deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and parameterized queries in preventing SQL injection attacks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their backup infrastructure and implement principle of least privilege for database accounts to minimize potential damage from such exploits. The vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security testing and code review processes to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other applications within the enterprise environment.