CVE-2017-7284 in Enterprise Backup
Summary
by MITRE
An attacker that has hijacked a Unitrends Enterprise Backup (before 9.1.2) web server session can leverage api/includes/users.php to change the password of the logged in account without knowing the current password. This allows for an account takeover.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7284 represents a critical session management flaw within Unitrends Enterprise Backup software versions prior to 9.1.2. This issue resides in the api/includes/users.php component where insufficient validation mechanisms exist to verify the authenticity of password change requests. The flaw enables authenticated session hijacking attacks where an adversary who has gained control of a valid user session can manipulate the password change functionality without requiring knowledge of the current password. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authentication checks within the user management API endpoint. When a user session is hijacked, the attacker can directly invoke the password change functionality through the api/includes/users.php script without proper verification of the current password or administrative privileges. This weakness aligns with CWE-305 authentication bypass vulnerabilities and represents a classic example of insufficient session validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. The attack vector exploits the trust relationship between the web server and authenticated sessions, allowing arbitrary password modifications that effectively compromise the account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account takeover as it provides attackers with persistent access to backup systems that often contain sensitive organizational data. Once an attacker successfully changes a user's password, they gain unauthorized access to backup configurations, restore operations, and potentially the entire backup repository. This threat scenario maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1078 legitimate credentials, where adversaries use compromised accounts to maintain persistence and access to critical infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where backup systems serve as crucial data protection mechanisms and where unauthorized access could result in data loss, system compromise, or regulatory compliance violations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Unitrends Enterprise Backup version 9.1.2 or later, which addresses this vulnerability through proper authentication checks and session validation. Network segmentation and monitoring of API endpoints can help detect anomalous password change activities. Additional defensive measures include implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, regular session timeout configurations, and continuous monitoring of user account modifications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation and highlights the need for regular security assessments of web application components that handle sensitive user management functions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block unauthorized API access patterns that could exploit similar session management flaws.