CVE-2017-6402 in NetBackup
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Veritas NetBackup 8.0 and earlier and NetBackup Appliance 3.0 and earlier. Denial of service affecting NetBackup server can occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6402 represents a critical denial of service weakness affecting Veritas NetBackup server implementations across multiple versions including NetBackup 8.0 and earlier, as well as NetBackup Appliance 3.0 and earlier releases. This issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the NetBackup server component that processes incoming requests and commands. The flaw allows malicious actors to craft specially formatted requests that, when processed by the vulnerable server, trigger unexpected behavior leading to complete service disruption. The vulnerability exists at the application layer where the server fails to properly sanitize and validate incoming data before processing, creating an opportunity for exploitation that directly impacts the availability of critical backup and recovery services.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability manifests when the NetBackup server receives malformed or unexpected input through its network interfaces or command processing mechanisms. The lack of proper input validation creates a condition where the server's processing logic encounters unexpected data structures that cause the application to crash or enter an unstable state. This behavior aligns with CWE-20, which categorizes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software design that can lead to various security issues including denial of service conditions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core backup infrastructure components that organizations rely upon for data protection and business continuity, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to disrupt critical operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6402 extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise entire backup infrastructures and business operations. Organizations utilizing vulnerable NetBackup implementations face significant risks including extended downtime for backup operations, potential data loss scenarios due to backup service unavailability, and increased recovery time objectives during incident response. The vulnerability can be exploited through network-based attacks that require minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where backup services are often exposed to various network zones. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat landscape, as it can be leveraged as a preliminary step in more complex attack chains targeting critical data infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6402 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Veritas, which typically involves applying the latest security updates and service packs that address the input validation deficiencies. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of NetBackup servers to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1499, which covers network denial of service attacks, and organizations should consider implementing defensive measures such as rate limiting and connection tracking to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of the vulnerable software and ensure comprehensive coverage of all backup infrastructure components.