CVE-2017-7439 in OnCommand Unified Manager Core Package
Summary
by MITRE
NetApp OnCommand Unified Manager Core Package 5.x before 5.2.2P1 might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via vectors involving error messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7439 affects NetApp OnCommand Unified Manager Core Package versions 5.x prior to 5.2.2P1, representing a critical information disclosure weakness that could be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system data. This vulnerability specifically manifests through error messages that are improperly handled within the system, creating opportunities for attackers to extract confidential information that should remain protected. The flaw exists in the core package of the unified manager system, which serves as a central management platform for NetApp storage environments, making it a particularly attractive target for malicious actors seeking to compromise storage infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling mechanisms within the application's core components, where error messages contain sensitive information about the system's internal state, configuration details, or operational parameters. When the system encounters exceptional conditions or processing errors, it generates error messages that inadvertently expose information such as database connection details, file paths, internal system structures, or other operational data that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. This improper information exposure occurs during the error processing phase, where the system fails to sanitize or filter error output before presenting it to external users or systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which specifically addresses the issue of error messages containing sensitive information, and represents a classic example of how poor error handling can create security risks in enterprise applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks against the affected storage infrastructure. Remote attackers who can trigger the vulnerable error conditions gain access to system internals that could reveal network topology, system configurations, or operational patterns that would otherwise remain hidden. This information leakage could enable attackers to identify potential attack vectors, understand system architecture, or discover additional vulnerabilities that exist within the same environment. The impact is particularly severe given that OnCommand Unified Manager serves as a critical management interface for storage systems, meaning that compromised information could lead to broader infrastructure compromise or unauthorized access to stored data. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain access to system information.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to NetApp OnCommand Unified Manager version 5.2.2P1 or later, which contains patches addressing the improper error handling mechanisms. System administrators should also implement network-level controls to monitor and restrict access to the unified manager interface, particularly focusing on identifying and blocking unauthorized attempts to trigger error conditions. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of error conditions can help detect exploitation attempts and provide forensic evidence of potential attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure error handling practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other security frameworks, emphasizing that error messages should never contain sensitive information that could aid attackers in their reconnaissance efforts. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments to identify similar error handling vulnerabilities across their entire infrastructure, as this type of information disclosure can occur in various components of complex enterprise systems.