CVE-2017-2767 in Network Configuration Manager
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Network Configuration Manager (NCM) 9.3.x, EMC Network Configuration Manager (NCM) 9.4.0.x, EMC Network Configuration Manager (NCM) 9.4.1.x, EMC Network Configuration Manager (NCM) 9.4.2.x contains a Java RMI Remote Code Execution vulnerability that could potentially be exploited by malicious users to compromise the affected system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2767 affects EMC Network Configuration Manager versions 9.3.x through 9.4.2.x, representing a critical Java Remote Method Invocation remote code execution flaw that poses significant security risks to network infrastructure management systems. This vulnerability resides within the Java RMI component of the NCM application, which is designed to manage and configure network devices across enterprise environments. The flaw allows unauthorized attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected system by exploiting weaknesses in the remote method invocation framework that handles network configuration operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and inadequate security controls within the Java RMI implementation used by EMC NCM. When the application processes remote method calls through the RMI interface, it fails to properly validate serialized object parameters, creating an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious serialized objects that can be deserialized on the target system. This deserialization process allows the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the NCM service account, potentially enabling full system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data as a critical security weakness.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system compromise, as it can enable attackers to gain persistent access to network configuration management infrastructure that controls critical network devices. Organizations relying on EMC NCM for network device management face potential exposure to sophisticated attacks where adversaries can manipulate network configurations, escalate privileges, or establish backdoors within their network infrastructure. The attack vector typically involves sending specially crafted RMI requests to the vulnerable service, which can be executed from remote locations without requiring authentication, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in unpatched environments. This scenario directly correlates with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches, restricting network access to the affected NCM services, and implementing network segmentation to limit exposure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of securing remote administration interfaces and highlights the critical need for proper input validation in distributed computing environments. Security teams should also consider monitoring for unusual RMI traffic patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits of Java-based applications are essential to prevent similar issues in other enterprise systems, as this vulnerability represents a common pattern of insecure deserialization that affects numerous applications across different vendors and platforms.