CVE-2017-7279 in Enterprise Backup
Summary
by MITRE
An unprivileged user of the Unitrends Enterprise Backup before 9.0.0 web server can escalate to root privileges by modifying the "token" cookie issued at login.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7279 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Unitrends Enterprise Backup software version 9.0.0 and earlier. This issue stems from improper session management and insufficient access controls within the web server component that governs user authentication and authorization processes. The vulnerability specifically targets the token-based authentication mechanism that is fundamental to maintaining secure user sessions within the backup platform's web interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the authentication token cookie that is generated during the login process. When an unprivileged user accesses the Unitrends web interface, the system issues a session token that should be strictly tied to the authenticated user's privileges and security context. However, the flaw allows an attacker to modify this token value in a manner that bypasses normal access controls, effectively granting elevated privileges to the compromised session. This cookie manipulation technique exploits weak cryptographic validation or predictable token generation mechanisms that enable attackers to forge administrative session tokens.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive backup data. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain root-level access to the underlying system, enabling them to manipulate backup configurations, access encrypted backup data, modify backup schedules, and potentially exfiltrate or corrupt critical backup repositories. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where Unitrends backup systems often contain sensitive corporate data, personal information, and critical business assets that are protected by the backup infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1548.001 for abuse of privileges. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient session management controls where the system fails to properly validate session tokens against the authenticated user's actual privileges. Organizations implementing Unitrends Enterprise Backup solutions should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority remediation item, particularly given the potential for data loss and system compromise that such a flaw enables. The issue underscores the importance of robust session management practices and proper access control implementation in web-based administrative interfaces.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to Unitrends Enterprise Backup version 9.0.0 or later, which addresses the token validation weakness. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the backup server, enforce strong access controls through firewall rules, and deploy monitoring solutions to detect suspicious cookie modifications or unusual administrative activities. Regular security assessments of web applications should include thorough testing of session management mechanisms and authentication token validation processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future deployments.