CVE-2017-5995 in ONTAP Select Deploy Administration Utility
Summary
by MITRE
The NetApp ONTAP Select Deploy administration utility 2.0 through 2.2.1 might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5995 affects the NetApp ONTAP Select Deploy administration utility version 2.0 through 2.2.1, representing a significant security concern within enterprise storage infrastructure. This issue falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities that can potentially compromise the confidentiality of sensitive system data. The affected utility operates as a management interface for NetApp ONTAP Select deployments, which are software-defined storage solutions designed to provide enterprise-grade storage capabilities within virtualized environments. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability could be exploited through multiple attack surfaces, making it particularly concerning for security professionals who must consider various potential exploitation pathways.
The technical flaw within the administration utility stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access controls that allow unauthorized remote actors to extract sensitive information from the system. This type of vulnerability typically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user inputs or when it provides excessive information disclosure through error messages, response headers, or direct data retrieval mechanisms. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure" and encompasses various scenarios where sensitive data becomes accessible to unauthorized parties. The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple data retrieval to potentially include system configuration details, authentication credentials, or other confidential operational information that could facilitate further exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5995 extends far beyond the immediate disclosure of sensitive information, as it creates opportunities for attackers to conduct reconnaissance activities that could lead to more severe compromises. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains intelligence about the storage environment, including potential system configurations, network topology information, and operational parameters that could be leveraged in subsequent attack phases. This reconnaissance capability directly maps to the ATT&CK framework's reconnaissance phase, where adversaries gather information about their target before executing more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous in cloud and distributed environments where network exposure is common.
Organizations utilizing affected NetApp ONTAP Select Deploy administration utilities must implement immediate mitigations to protect their storage infrastructure from potential exploitation. The recommended approach includes applying the vendor-provided patches and updates that address the information disclosure vulnerability, while also implementing network segmentation controls to limit access to the administration utility. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running affected versions and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The mitigation strategy should also encompass network access controls that restrict access to the administration utility to authorized personnel only, utilizing principles of least privilege and multi-factor authentication. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive logging and monitoring of administrative activities to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the information disclosure could serve as a precursor to more advanced attacks within the storage infrastructure.