CVE-2017-5785 in Matrix Operating Environment
Summary
by MITRE
A remote information disclosure vulnerability in HPE Matrix Operating Environment version v7.6 was found.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5785 represents a critical remote information disclosure flaw within the HPE Matrix Operating Environment version v7.6, a sophisticated storage management platform designed for enterprise data center environments. This vulnerability resides in the system's handling of certain network protocols and authentication mechanisms, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized remote attackers to access sensitive system information without proper authorization. The flaw specifically manifests in the way the operating environment processes incoming network requests and manages credential validation, potentially exposing system configurations, user credentials, and other confidential data to malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access controls within the network communication stack of the HPE Matrix Operating Environment. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted network packets that bypass normal authentication procedures, allowing them to retrieve system information through unauthenticated network connections. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which deals with information exposure, and represents a significant deviation from secure coding practices that should prevent unauthorized data access. The flaw operates at the application layer of the network stack, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from external network positions without requiring physical access to the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5785 extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within enterprise storage environments. Organizations utilizing HPE Matrix Operating Environment v7.6 face potential exposure of critical storage configurations, including volume mappings, access control lists, and storage pool configurations that could be leveraged by attackers to escalate privileges or conduct targeted attacks against storage resources. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed management interfaces. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to data breaches, storage system compromise, and potential disruption of business-critical storage operations.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate management interfaces, deployment of firewalls to restrict access to management ports, and application of official patches provided by HPE. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers discovery of system information, and T1566, which covers credential access through social engineering or network exploitation. Organizations should conduct comprehensive network audits to identify systems running vulnerable versions of the HPE Matrix Operating Environment and establish monitoring protocols to detect anomalous network activity that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patches in non-production environments to ensure compatibility with existing storage configurations and business operations.