CVE-2017-4984 in VNX1
Summary
by MITRE
In EMC VNX2 versions prior to OE for File 8.1.9.211 and VNX1 versions prior to OE for File 7.1.80.8, an unauthenticated remote attacker may be able to elevate their permissions to root through a command injection. This may potentially be exploited by an attacker to run arbitrary code with root-level privileges on the targeted VNX Control Station system, aka remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-4984 represents a critical command injection flaw affecting EMC VNX2 and VNX1 storage systems running older firmware versions. This security weakness exists within the file operations component of the EMC VNX storage array, specifically in the way the system processes user input during file operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle maliciously crafted commands passed through the system's interface. Attackers can exploit this flaw without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by remote threat actors to gain unauthorized access to critical storage infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a command injection attack vector where an unauthenticated remote attacker can craft malicious input that gets executed within the context of the VNX Control Station system. This flaw allows attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to root access, which provides complete control over the storage array's operational functions. The vulnerability specifically affects systems running EMC VNX2 versions prior to OE for File 8.1.9.211 and VNX1 versions prior to OE for File 7.1.80.8, indicating that the flaw was present in multiple generations of EMC's VNX storage platform. The command injection occurs at the operating system level within the control station, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code with the highest possible privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the affected storage systems. Once successfully exploited, attackers can manipulate storage configurations, access sensitive data stored on the arrays, modify storage policies, and potentially disrupt business operations through data corruption or unauthorized access. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not need physical access to the systems or knowledge of valid credentials to exploit this vulnerability, significantly increasing the attack surface. Organizations relying on EMC VNX storage arrays for critical data infrastructure face severe risks including data breaches, service disruptions, and potential compliance violations when these systems remain unpatched.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with applying the official EMC security patches released for affected firmware versions. The recommended approach involves upgrading to EMC VNX2 OE for File 8.1.9.211 or later versions and VNX1 OE for File 7.1.80.8 or later versions where the vulnerability has been resolved. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to storage management interfaces, particularly for systems running vulnerable firmware versions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories related to command injection and code execution flaws, and represents a significant concern under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and execution tactics. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous command execution patterns and unauthorized access attempts to storage management interfaces, as these activities may indicate exploitation attempts.