CVE-2017-3580 in Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK) component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite (subcomponent: RAS subsystems). The supported version that is affected is AK 2013. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK). Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK), attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK). CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.3 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3580 resides within the Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK) component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite, specifically within the Remote Administration Services (RAS) subsystems. This critical flaw affects the AK 2013 version and represents a significant security weakness that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers. The vulnerability operates through multiple network protocols, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged across various attack vectors without requiring prior authentication credentials. The complexity of exploitation is rated as difficult, yet the potential impact remains severe, aligning with CVSS 3.0 scoring of 8.3 that reflects high impacts across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and authentication mechanisms within the RAS subsystems of the ZFS Storage Appliance Kit. Attackers can potentially gain complete control over the affected appliance through network-based attacks that require minimal initial access points. The human interaction requirement suggests that while the initial exploitation might not be fully automated, social engineering or targeted user engagement could facilitate successful compromise. This vulnerability demonstrates a classic privilege escalation issue where network-accessible services fail to properly validate user credentials or implement adequate session management. The impact extends beyond the immediate appliance as the compromised system can serve as a foothold for further attacks on connected networks and systems, potentially affecting additional Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite components.
The operational implications of CVE-2017-3580 are particularly severe given that successful exploitation can result in complete takeover of the Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit. This compromise allows attackers to execute arbitrary code, modify system configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially disrupt critical storage operations. Organizations relying on ZFS Storage Appliances for data management and storage infrastructure face significant risks including data breaches, service interruptions, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and its alignment with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) indicates that this flaw represents a legitimate pathway for attackers to establish persistent access within enterprise environments. The cross-product impact mentioned in the vulnerability description suggests that compromise of one appliance could potentially affect other systems within the broader Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite ecosystem.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including network segmentation to isolate affected appliances, deployment of network access controls to restrict unauthorized access to RAS subsystems, and regular monitoring for anomalous network traffic patterns. Security patches and updates from Oracle should be applied immediately upon availability, as the vulnerability's difficulty of exploitation does not negate its serious consequences. Network administrators should consider implementing additional authentication layers and monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability's CVSS score of 8.3 indicates that organizations should treat this as a high-priority security concern requiring immediate attention. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional weaknesses in the storage infrastructure that could be exploited in conjunction with this vulnerability. System hardening measures including disabling unnecessary services and implementing proper firewall rules around RAS subsystems should be implemented as part of comprehensive security remediation efforts.