CVE-2017-4917 in vSphere Data Protection
Summary
by MITRE
VMware vSphere Data Protection (VDP) 6.1.x, 6.0.x, 5.8.x, and 5.5.x locally stores vCenter Server credentials using reversible encryption. This issue may allow plaintext credentials to be obtained.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-4917 affects VMware vSphere Data Protection versions 6.1.x, 6.0.x, 5.8.x, and 5.5.x, representing a significant security flaw in credential storage mechanisms. This issue resides within the local storage implementation of vCenter Server credentials, where sensitive authentication information is not properly secured using robust encryption methods. The vulnerability stems from the use of reversible encryption algorithms that allow unauthorized parties to potentially extract plaintext credentials from the stored data. This represents a critical weakness in VMware's security architecture, particularly concerning the protection of administrative access credentials that control access to virtualized environments. The flaw specifically impacts organizations utilizing VMware vSphere Data Protection as their primary backup and recovery solution, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to compromise virtual infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the use of encryption methods that can be reversed or decrypted without requiring additional authentication or keys. This reversible encryption approach fundamentally undermines the security of stored credentials, as it provides attackers with the capability to recover plaintext passwords from the encrypted storage locations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which describes "Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information," and represents a direct violation of secure credential handling practices. When credentials are stored using reversible encryption, any individual with access to the storage location can potentially recover the original passwords, effectively neutralizing the encryption protection. This flaw demonstrates poor security design principles where encryption is implemented but not properly secured against reverse engineering or unauthorized access.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-4917 extends beyond simple credential theft, as compromised vCenter Server credentials can provide attackers with complete administrative control over virtualized environments. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can access backup configurations, modify backup policies, and potentially gain access to sensitive virtual machine data. This represents a severe risk to enterprise security postures, particularly in environments where vCenter Server credentials provide access to critical business applications and data. The vulnerability can be exploited through local access to systems running affected VMware vSphere Data Protection versions, making it accessible to both internal and external threat actors who gain system-level privileges. Organizations may face significant operational disruption, data breaches, and compliance violations if this vulnerability is exploited, as it directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of virtualized infrastructure management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-4917 should prioritize immediate patching of affected VMware vSphere Data Protection installations to the latest available versions that address the encryption implementation flaw. Organizations should implement additional access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to systems storing sensitive credentials. The remediation process should include reviewing and strengthening credential management policies, ensuring that all administrative credentials are regularly rotated and that multi-factor authentication is implemented where possible. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive assessments of their virtualized environments to identify any additional systems that may be vulnerable to similar credential storage issues. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, highlighting the importance of both credential protection and user awareness training to prevent exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of credential compromise.